Major Depressive Disorder

Question 1

Definition of Major Depressive Disorder ?

Answer 1

A syndrome of persistent sad mood lasting 2 weeks or longer and having 5 or more of the following symptoms

(at least one symptom should be either depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure)

Question 2

What are the signs & symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder ?

Answer 2

• A depressed mood
• A loss of interest in life’s activities most of the day
• Express feelings of worthlessness or excessive/inappropriate guilt
• May report fatigue or loss of energy daily
• May have weight gain or weight loss without trying
  (may have no appetite or increased appetite)
• Poor concentration and Indecisiveness
• Recurrent thoughts of death and peak of suicide without a plan or a very specific plan
• Delusions and Hallucinations

Question 3

When communicating with client’s with Major Depressive Disorder, how would it be best to communicate with them ?

Answer 3

• Slow down when talking to these clients
  &
• use the therapeutic communication technique of: Silence

Question 4

Is Self-esteem a problem in Major Depressive Disorder ?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

Sleep Disturbances are common in clients with Major Depressive Disorder, therefore, clients may experience either ____________ or _____________ ?

Answer 5

Insomnia Or Hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)

Question 6

In regards to sleep, clients often have what ?

Answer 6

Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or have early morning awakenings

Question 7

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

A client with MDD may need help with what ?

Answer 7

Self-care

Question 8

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

What do you want to prevent in clients with depression?

Answer 8

Want to Prevent Isolation

Question 9

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

Do you want client’s with MDD to interact with others, even if they don’t want to ?

Answer 9

Yes! - b/c it makes the client feel better :)

Question 10

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

In client’s with MDD, what do you want to help them do ?

Answer 10

Want to help them experience Accomplishments & set accomplishable goals

Question 11

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

With a Severely depressed client, what May be the best thing that you can do for them ? and why ?

Answer 11

Sitting with the client and making no demands

Because this promotes self-esteem (which is a problem)

Question 12

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

As a client with MDD starts to feel better, what do you want to encourage them to do ?

Answer 12

Encourage them to describe their feelings

let the client know that you understand they are in pain and feel powerless

Question 13

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

If the client with MDD is capable, what activities are recommended that are safe and will help with depression ?

Answer 13

• Walking
• Running
• Weight Lifting

Question 14

Tx’s for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

What do you want to assess for in client’s with MDD (in general) and when they start taking Antidepressants ?

Answer 14

Suicide risk

b/c now they have the energy to complete the task

Question 15

When is suicide risk highest ?

Answer 15

The first 2 weeks of starting medications (antidepressants)

want to monitor client in first 2 weeks

Question 16

What may indicate that the client has made the decision to kill themselves ?

Answer 16

A sudden change in mood towards the better

Question 17

Culturally, who have a higher suicide rate ?

Answer 17

American Indians

Question 18

__________ clients are particularly at risk for suicide ?

Answer 18

Elderly clients

Question 19

Of the Elderly population, who in particular tend to be very successful ? and why ?

Answer 19

Elderly men B/c they generally use very lethal methods

Question 20

What 3 important questions you should ask regarding Suicide ?

Answer 20

• Do they have a plan ?
• What is the plan ?
• How lethal is the plan ?

Question 21

What do you want to determine about the client in regards to suicide ?

Answer 21

• Determine if the client has access to the plan
  &
• if the client has attempted suicide before

Question 22

In regards to possible suicide, What things do you want to watch for ?

Answer 22

• Isolating themselves
• Writing a will
• Collecting harmful objects
• Giving away their belongings

Question 23

What are Suicide Interventions ?

Answer 23

• Direct, closed ended statements
  (are therapeutic communication techniques in this situation)
• Provide a safe environment
• Safe-proof the room