Blog 3 - Depression, Brain Stimulation and Men

 

Depression is a topic that a lot of people know a little bit about. It is a taboo topic of discussion that many avoid but is mental illness that is very prevalent and needs addressing. Depression is a very common and very serious mood disorder that can affect the way an individual thinks, feels and handles day to day activities. An individual's risk or susceptibility to depression is caused by a combination of personal/family history, major life changes, such as stress or trauma and certain physical illnesses (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). In order for an individual to be diagnosed with depression they have to experience multiple of the following symptoms for 2 or more weeks in conjunction with a persistent low mood (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018);

• Feeling sad, anxious or empty.

• Experiencing hopelessness or pessimism.

• Irritability.

• Experiencing guilt, worthlessness or helplessness.

• Loss of interest in pleasure and hobbies.

• Decreased energy and or fatigue.

• Moving or talking slower.

• Restlessness.

• Trouble concentrating, remembering or decision making. 

• Difficulty sleeping, waking late or oversleeping. 

• Loss of appetite or weight changes.

• Aches, pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems without physical cause.

Depression comes in different forms and not everyone will experience the same symptoms. Some individuals may find themselves experiencing many symptoms at once, others may just experience a few. There are also different depression diagnoses that an individual can receive. The first is persistent depressive disorder, this is a depressed mood that lasts for 2 or more years and sees individuals experience major depressive episodes and also periods of less severe symptoms (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). Psychotic depression is also a diagnosis an individual may receive, this is usually severe depression that coincides with some form of psychosis such as delusions or hallucinations (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). Another depressive disorder is seasonal depression. Like its name suggests this form of depression affects individuals by seasons, depressive moods and symptoms show themselves around the winter months and seem to lessen in the summer and spring months (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). 

Brain stimulation therapies are therapies that involve activating or inhibiting an individual's brain through electrical impulses (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). There are multiple ways in which brain stimulations can be performed and contrary to popular belief they are safe and effective if used correctly and in conjunction with other treatments. Brain stimulation can occur by electrodes being placed on an individual's scalp or by electrodes being directly implanted into an individual's brain (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). Of all of the available brain stimulation treatments electroconvulsive therapy is the best studied and has the longest history of use (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). Other brain stimulation treatments are; vagus nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy and deep brain stimulation (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). Treatment plans will usually include both medication and psychotherapy as well as brain stimulation therapy.

Whilst the prevalence of mental illness is lower in men than it is in women, they are also less likely to receive any kind of and are more likely to die by means of suicide (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2019). Being able to recognize symptoms of mental illnesses in loved ones is very important and may be the first step towards getting that individual the help that they need. Men can show mental illness in the following ways (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2019);

• Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness.

• Noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite.

• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much.

• Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge.

• Increased worry or feeling stressed.

• Misuse of alcohol and/or drugs.

• Sadness or hopelessness.

• Suicidal thoughts.

• Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions.

• Engaging in high-risk activities.

• Aches, headaches, digestive problems without a clear cause.

• Obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior.

• Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life.

• Unusual thinking or behaviors that concern other people.

Citations:

The National Institute of Mental Health. (2016, June). Brain Stimulation Therapies. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml

The National Institute of Mental Health. (2018, February). Depression. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

The National Institute of Mental Health. (2019, June). Men and Mental Health. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health/index.shtml