Shock treatment, or electroconvulsive therapy, has been in use for over 60 years to treat brain-based disorders such as depression, catatonia, mania and schizophrenia. The University Hospital in New Jersey states that the ECT procedure is painless...
Depression is a mood disorder where the patient experiences severe sadness, self-hatred, agitation and frustration; these emotions interfere in the patient's life and disrupts his quality of life. While many depression patients use medication to...
Depression is a serious mood disorder that can disrupt a person's life. While medication is often prescribed to manage symptoms, not everyone wants to use drugs. Luckily, depression can be effectively treated with other methods, like...
A treatment algorithm is a set of instructions and guidelines developed by a group of physicians, medical practitioners and academicians. The algorithm is derived from clinical trials, medical literature and collective clinical experience. They...
One of the four types of bipolar disorder, bipolar disorder II is defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as episodes of major depression with periods of hypomania, which is a less severe form of mania. Because hypomania may be...
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), electric shock treatment, or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is used to treat some patients who suffer from severe depression that manifests with either insomnia, weight change,...
Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness and hopelessness, issues eating and sleeping, trouble concentrating, thoughts of suicide, and fatigue. Therapists help their clients cope with depression by teaching them relaxation techniques,...
Therapy is a preferred way to manage psychological disorders. Its goal is to help the patient explore his mental state, identify negative attitudes and beliefs that may stem from the psychological disorder and then help him change those beliefs....
Electric shock is another name for the longer "electroconvulsive therapy," in which a patient is given a small electric shock to deliberately cause a short seizure in the person's brain. It has been used as therapy since the early 1930s. According...
Prozac, also sold under the generic name fluoxetine, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is given for depression. Prozac works by preventing the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which results in an improvement of...
Clinical depression is considered to be a disease much like the flu or heart disease. As our understanding of how the brain and emotions work has increased, medicine has become better at treating clinical depression. Currently there are a number...
When a person has short-term memory loss, he has problems remembering recent events, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Some forgetfulness can occur with age, as more brain cells die as a person ages. But serious short-term...
Clinical depression, which is also known as major depression or unipolar depression, is a condition that causes prolonged episodes of severe sadness. In some cases, this condition can lead to suicide or self mutilation. When properly diagnosed...
Talking to children about depression, especially if a parent suspects that his child may be suffering from the condition, can be painful and difficult. By providing well-rounded information in a non-pressuring approach, parents can open the line...
Depression is one of the most common health problems worldwide according to the Mayo Clinic. Depression, also known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder, is a medical illness that affects both the mind and body. Most doctors think...
Bipolar I disorder is characterized by extreme highs and lows known as mania and major depression. The person does not have to experience major depression to meet the criteria for this disorder. Bipolar II disorder is different from bipolar I in...
Bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic-depressive illness, is a unique mental illness in which patients go through extreme mood swings. People with this condition may be consumed by sadness and deep depression for a period. But then mood can...
Many of the changes that take place in the lives of the elderly cause sadness and concern. Those with few coping skills may fall into a depression when loved ones die or their health deteriorates. While depression is not a normal part of the aging...
For centuries people with depression were blamed for their blues. "Just snap out of it," "What do you have to be sad about?" and "What's wrong with you?" are just a few of the frustrating and hurtful things the depressed have heard from their...
When determining what type of therapy you need for depression, take into account your specific diagnosis, other mental health issues and your personality. You can also discuss different therapy options with a licensed mental health provider. If...
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that major depressive disorder is one of the most common depressive disorders. To be diagnosed, the patient must have at least five symptoms that last for at least two weeks, according to the...
Psychotherapy, or "talk therapy," is generally necessary for individuals who are suffering from depression and who want to alleviate their symptoms permanently. Generally speaking, you will meet with your therapist weekly, though some patients...
Someone suffering from major depression, a serious mental health disorder, needs professional attention and needs to make lifestyle changes in order to decrease the severe symptoms. People who have major depression are at risk for suicidal...
Depression, a serious mental health issue, makes it hard for someone to be successful at work, maintain healthy relationships and to function normally each day. Many people don't understand the seriousness of the disorder and how difficult it is...
Almost 7 percent of the U.S. population is depressed in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Symptoms of depression persist over a period of weeks or more, yet many of these people never seek help. A number of...
An estimated 5.7 million adult Americans suffer from bipolar disorder each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This mental disorder has an average onset of 25 years of age, and causes extreme mood swings, along with changes...
Bipolar disorder is a form of mental illness characterized by alternating cycles of depression and manic behavior. Though the disorder can be serious and debilitating, a number of strategies exist to effectively manage its symptoms. Through...
The effects of bipolar disorder can impact a person’s family, career and social life, and lead to paralyzing depression, hospitalization and even suicide. Treatment for bipolar depression most commonly involves medication and psychological...
Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, refers to a debilitating disease characterized by severe mood swings. At one moment, you may be hyper and energetic. The next moment you may be sad and depressed, according to Medline Plus.
Depression is a very common medical illness that involves the mind and body. It affects how you think and behave and can cause a variety of emotional and physical problems. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of depression...