| There is no hiding the fact that many Americans | | | | pediatricians are affected by system-level changes." |
| suffer from depression. When combined with other | | | | The results of the research were "based on an |
| diseases, that number greatly increases. Depression | | | | interview with 42 community pediatricians." It was |
| affects us all, from young children to aging adults, and | | | | reported that , "pediatricians` mean confidence levels in |
| everyone in between. It is a diagnosable disease and | | | | diagnosing depression, anxiety and oppositional defiant |
| yet can be treated. | | | | disorder were lessened after the intervention." |
| According to a study, (published in mental health | | | | In a recent article in Mental Health magainze a report |
| magazine) "half of all people with advanced or terminal | | | | suggests that "the Veterans Administration (VA) still |
| cancer suffer from depression, anxiety or adjustment | | | | faces scrutiny from groups that are doubtful about the |
| disorders and could use their oncologist`s help getting | | | | potential of its effort in the U.S." The report then goes |
| treatment." | | | | on to say, "inorder to support the quality and scope of |
| Depression affects many women, especially those | | | | its mental health program, the VA has appointed 3,000 |
| nearing the end of the biological cycle. A recent article | | | | mental health professionals in 2005 and aims to add |
| in Mental Health magazine they reported on the | | | | 1,000 more staff in 2007 inorder to meet the needs of |
| relationship between the biological clock and mental | | | | returning veterans who suffer from conditions like |
| health to patients. In the U.S. Researchers, as cited, | | | | post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), brain injuries, |
| "have identified winter depression as a psychiatric | | | | and depression." |
| illness and name it as seasonal affective disorder | | | | Of course it is not as simple as just depression as |
| (SAD)." The American Psychiatric Association (APA) | | | | there are various levels of depression. According |
| in Arlington, Virginia strongly suggests "light therapy as | | | | Thomas Joiner, a professor of pyschology for the |
| a treatment, while psychiatrists noted that correcting | | | | National Institue of Mental Health, there is what is called |
| abnormal circadian rhythms through exposure to light | | | | double depression. Double depression is a mood |
| can help treat such disorders." | | | | disorder that is difficult to distinguish from dysthymia or |
| Depression also affects the youth in our society. To | | | | major depression alone. |
| gain a better understanding of just how our youth | | | | If you know of someone who suffers from depression |
| suffer from depression researchers conducted "a | | | | or a professional that treats the disease, here are |
| longitudinal population-based study among 842 | | | | events you should mark down and get more |
| adolescents aged 11-16 at the baseline assessment, | | | | information on. The conference of the Depression and |
| and aged 15-20 at follow-up." Accordint to the study, | | | | Bipolar Support Alliance, The first conference of the |
| "the results of the study reveal that both mother-and | | | | National Association of Peer Specialists and The 115th |
| adolescent-rated depressive symptoms predict future | | | | annual conference of the American Psychological |
| depression, antisocial behavior, impairment and regular | | | | Association. You will want to google each conference |
| tobacco use in the adolescent." Thus, the study | | | | name and get dates, times and locations. |
| concludes that "it is possible to obtain clinically useful | | | | Depression is a disease, and according to doctors and |
| information on adolescent depression from the child`s | | | | researchers it is treatable. |
| mother." | | | | By: Michael C. |
| Researchers report "that the behavioral practices of | | | | |