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Issue Description
BRAND NEW LOOK!
People who are depressed are more than just “down” – they suffer from chronic low mood which affects their relationships with others and day-to-day life. Some types of depression have specific triggers, such as the season (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and being a new mum (post-natal depression). Bipolar Disorder (manic depression) sufferers experience drastic “lows” and “highs”. This book examines the different types of depression and looks at treatments available.
The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper reports, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.
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Key Facts
- Depression affects a person’s physical state, mood and thought processes. People with depression cannot merely ‘pull themselves together’ and get better. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed away but an illness that needs treatment to reduce symptoms. (page 1)
- Mood change and depression are more common in people suffering from physical illnesses than in people who are well. (page 3)
- You’re three times more likely to develop depression if your parents suffered depression, but it’s not inevitable. Scientists believe the risk of developing depression results from a combination of genetic, biochemical, psychological and environmental factors. (page 4)
- 75% of people in the UK suffer from depression at some time in their lives, but only a third seek help, research has found. (page 5)
- Depression affects one in five older people living in the community and two in five living in care homes. (page 7)
- Major mood disorders affect 20 per cent of the population and are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. (page 12)
- For people with severe depression, the lifetime risk of suicide may be as high as 6%. This compares with a risk of 1.3% in the general population. (page 21)
- In total, about one in six adults are known to have a neurotic mental health disorder in any given week. The most common disorder is mixed anxiety and depression (8.8%). (page 22)
- In western Europe the prevalence for post-natal depression is 13%. (page 23)
- 1.7% of 16- to 19-year-olds and 2.2% of 20- to 24-year-olds, or about 127,000, have suffered from a depressive episode. (page 27)
- GPs have difficulty recognising depression in their patients, according to an overview of more than 40 studies conducted by the University of Leicester. The research, involving more than 50,000 patients, found that GPs correctly picked up on depression in only 50% of cases. They were actually more likely to misdiagnose a patient as depressed than they were to spot a case of genuine depression. (page 31)
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 About Depression
Depression, Myths about depression quiz, Depression affects three out of four in UK, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or winter depression, Statistics on mental health, Bipolar as a condition, Same genes suspected in both depression and bipolar illness, Depression linked to desire for fame, say scientists, Post-natal depression, New dads get depressed too, Men and mental health: get it off your chest, Depression as deadly as smoking but anxiety may be good for you, Depression and suicide.
Chapter 2 Depression and Young People
Teenage depression, Statistics about young adults with mental health problems, Living with depression, Teenage depression no longer on the increase.
Chapter 3 Diagnosis and Treatment
When a seven-minute diagnosis is not enough, Antidepressants, Depression sufferers ‘not seeking help’, Talking treatment, NHS should use meditation to treat depression, says report, Buddhism beats depression, Antidepressants do little for mild cases, There’s no quick fix for depression, What can I do to help myself?
Key Facts
Glossary
Index
Additional Resources
Acknowledgements
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The Study Guide for: Coping with Depression - Volume 190
Each book in the Issues series has a study guide. These four-page guides provide a variety of discussion points and other activities to suit a wide range of ability levels and interests.
Publisher: Independence Educational Publishers
Price: £1.95
ISBN: ISBN: 978 1 86168 547 6
