Major Depressive disorder Treatment Center - Miami, FL
what we treat
What is Major Depressive Disorder?
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses experienced by individuals worldwide (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The American Psychiatric Association indicates that 1 in 15 adults suffer from depression in any given year (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In addition, 1 in 6 people will experience depression at some point in their lifespan (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Major Depressive Disorder can occur at any stage of development, but it is most commonly diagnosed during late adolescence and early adulthood (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Major Depressive Disorder Risk Factors
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses experienced by individuals worldwide (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The American Psychiatric Association indicates that 1 in 15 adults suffer from depression in any given year (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
In addition, 1 in 6 people will experience depression at some point in their lifespan (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Major Depressive Disorder can occur at any stage of development, but it is most commonly diagnosed during late adolescence and early adulthood (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms
Depression can lead to a variety of emotional, physical and interpersonal challenges that impact ability to function in a professional/academic setting and/or at home (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe. In order for an individual to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder they need to experience symptoms for at least two weeks and with noticeable change in their functioning (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The DSM-V outlines the following symptoms for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities/things once enjoyed
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Insomnia or Hypersomnia
- Increased fatigue/Loss of energy
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
Grief and Major Depressive Disorder
Oftentimes, people find themselves wondering about the difference between situation-specific sadness/grief and major depressive disorder after experiencing an adverse life-event. It is important to learn to differentiate between the two (American Psychiatric Association 2013). When a person is faced with difficult situations (i.e., death of a loved one, loss, ending relationships) it is normal for feelings of grief and sadness to occur (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Even though, the grieving process and depression might share the commonality of the experience of sadness and involve withdrawal from daily activities being sad or experiencing grief is not the same as major depressive disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Some of the main differences between grief and major depressive disorder is that when a person is experiencing grief painful emotions can occur in waves and the emotions experienced can be mixed with positive memories of what they lost (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
On the other hand, in major depressive disorder pleasure/interests in things and positive emotions are very diminished for a longer period (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In addition, a person experiencing grief is oftentimes able to maintain their self-esteem/confidence while a person with major depressive disorder often experiences a sense of worthlessness and self-loathing (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Moreover, in grief a person can fantasize about ending their life to be with their loved one (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Nevertheless, in major depressive disorder the individual may experience thoughts about ending their life due to feeling worthless, hopeless, and the unbearable pain that depression is causing in their lives (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Both grief and depression vary in the way they manifest for an individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) They can often co-occur with each other as well. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Some of the events that lead to grief can trigger the development of major depressive disorder for someone (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Usually, when they happen in combination the symptoms of grief tend to last longer in someone who also has depression than in someone who is just experiencing grief (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Therefore, it is very important to seek help and support if you find yourself struggling with grief and/or depression.
Major Depressive Disorder Treatment Options
Depression is a highly treatable disorder. When severe, the most effective treatment has been the combination of medication and psychotherapy (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Psychotherapy
Individual, family, and group therapy have shown to be beneficial in supporting an individual with managing the symptoms of depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has shown to be a very effective evidence- based model for treating symptoms of depression (Schimelpfening, 2020). The goal of CBT is to support the individual with gaining awareness of distorted thought patterns and how they impact their feelings and behaviors (Schimelpfening, 2020). CBT offers skills training on how to reframe thought patterns and increase positive coping skills (Schimelpfening, 2020). In addition, DBT and other evidence-based practices have shown to support with increasing the quality of life in someone with depression (Schimelpfening, 2020). Therapy often focuses on supporting the individual with better understanding the root cause of their depression, identifying positive coping mechanisms, and making changes in their life- style that would be conducive to increasing a positive quality of life (Schimelpfening, 2020).
Medication
When a person is experiencing depression, their brain chemistry might be impacting their symptoms and quality of life (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Anti-Depressants are often prescribed to help modify brain chemistry and support psychotherapeutic treatment (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The most used forms of anti-depressants are Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) which help with the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin (Schimelpfening, 2020). Other groups of medication used for the treatment of depression are SNRI’s, Trycyclic antidepressants, atypical anti-depressants and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s) (Schimelpfening, 2020). A medication prescriber will do the necessary and extensive evaluation of symptoms to determine if medication is needed and which type of anti-depressant would be most uniquely beneficial to the individual (Schimelpfening, 2020).
Getting Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in Miami, Florida
Galen Hope, a mental health treatment center in Miami, Florida, provides comprehensive services for a wide range of diagnoses and related conditions, including: Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, Mood Disorders, PTSD/Trauma, Psychosis, Thought Disorders, and Schizoid Personality Disorder. Our treatment integrates the best concepts of residential programs, partial hospitalization programs, and community psychology in order to provide an experience that not only feels uniquely meaningful to the client, but also breaks the cycle of repeated hospitalizations, over-institutionalization, and isolation from community and family.
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References
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth edition. 2013.
Schimelpfening, N. (2020). The 5 major classes of antidepressants. Verywell Mind. Retrieved September 20, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-major-classes-of-antidepressants-1065086.