Depression Flashcards
What is sadness and how is it self protective?
Protect against diseases by making us withdraw from society, less likely to expose ourselves to threats.
What is depression?
A mood disorder of symptoms that last at least 2 weeks. Sad depressed mood OR a loss of interest in daily activities (anhedonia)
many other symptoms too (weight changes, guilt, suicide, difficulty concentrating etc.)
difficult to tell if its part of another medical condition.
Symptoms causing impairments in daily life.
How is depression diagnosed?
often in an healthcare providers office, must rule out other causes.
Primary health settings ususally (not a psychologist or mental health specialist)
about 11-25% of epople will have depression in their lives, that number is higher if you have a chronic illness too.
should patients be regularly screened when they visit the doctor?
GPs often give false positives, cost/benefit ratio.
US says: screening is only useful if there are systems in place for treatment (shoudn’t be done at a random clinic) especially for those at risk.
Canada: not reccomended unless person showing symptoms or has history of depression. aka even if you’re high risk, if you aren’t showing symptoms, don’t get screened.
How is depression linked to chronic disease?
Inflammation: depression and inflammation are bidirectional. Leads to buildup of plaque in arteries = heart disease.
Acute inflammation is protective in the short term, and greater inflammatory response when faced with stressor for pathogens too.
Depression leads to: increased inflammatory response to stress and pathogens. and poor Health behaviors.
Inflammation leads to : loss of interest, fatigue, sleep and appetite disturbance.
those with depression have poor health behaviors.
What is HIV/aids?
Human immunodeficiency virus that is spread through semen and blood. Attacks immune system (CD4 cells) and if untreated turns into aids. (cD4 count below 200)
People can go for years without contracting it.
Puts you at risk for other diesases.
What is the treatment for HIV/AIDS?
HAART: highly active antiretroviral therapy is a combo of ART drugs that works and is very effective at reducing viral load but is complicated to take. Used to prevent HIV infections for the high risk population.
Adherence is important because if you start it in people who arent ready/dont follow through, all you do is build the tolerance to it, without helping.
but challenges are that most poeple who need it are unstable, and the ART regimen is complex and has side effects. 95% adherence required!
Is depression associated with ART non adherence?
Meta analysis says yes. So to treat it, antidepressants and CBT are implemented. People had 83% higher odds of adherence if they were treated for depression.
Depression and heart disease are bidirectional and evolve through time. How is it treated?
Self management: education, counseling, exercise
Psychotherapy
Antidepressants (reduce depression but not cardivascual health)
Can also be treated with EXERCISE which is just as effective than drugs and more than placebo. (supervised exercise programs have shown to be effective) It also improved fitness!
