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Health Matters

By Virginia Lester, RN,
MSN, ARNP

Clinical depression is one of the many health diagnoses seen in the general population. It is characterized by a wide variety of psychological and physical symptoms.

The single most important marker of pathologic depression is extreme sadness that interferes with the person’s ordinary daily activities and relationships. These activities of daily living include self care, maintenance of important relationships, performance of work-related tasks and economic self-support. Clinical depression however must be differentiated from the occasional blues and the normal reaction of grief associated with a loss, identified as “normal depression.”

In the past, depression was poorly understood and carried an unfortunate stigma. Research has shown that depression results from an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain. This research has helped clarify the complex biologic basis of depression, although the exact cause is still uncertain. That depression represents an actual biological disorder is supported by results of genetic studies and the response of depression to medication and other therapies that alter levels of brain neurochemicals.

Approximately 10 - 40 percent of patients evaluated in the primary care setting have significant depressive symptoms. The lifetime risk for a major depressive episode is seven - 12 percent in men and 20 - 25 percent in women.

The condition can affect people of all ages, including children and older adults. Lost productivity due to depression in U.S. workers is estimated to cost employers in excess of 31 billion dollars compared with workers who are not depressed. The majority of those lost dollars is due to reduced performance while at work.

Many people do not recognize that they are depressed or that their physical symptoms may be related to depression. One study revealed that 29 percent of people visiting their clinician for a physical symptom had a concomitant depressive or anxiety disorder.

Depression is a treatable condition. Psychotherapy (counseling), drug therapy, and other treatments can alleviate symptoms and help people with depression return to rich and productive lives. Treatment is most likely to be successful when the person with depression is receptive to treatment, participates in the choice of treatment and works closely with a clinician to ensure that treatment is effective.

The Point Roberts Aydon Wellness Clinic is very fortunate to have Doug Benjamin, MS one day per month who performs mental health evaluations and makes recommendations for treatment, by appointment. He is also available for consultation, providing continuing care through the clinic.

The Point Roberts Aydon Wellness Clinic and the Pioneers are sponsoring an educational forum on mental health issues, November 6, from 10 a.m. - noon at the community center. The panel will consist of Margot Griffiths, MA in clinical counseling, Zolman Saper, PhD in psychology and Doug Benjamin, MS in psychology and mental health counseling and director of the Clinical Psychology Department at Interfaith Community Health Center. Please reserve the date and come with questions for the experts.

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