The loss of comedy genius Robin Williams inspired us to learn more about depression with Dr. Michael Bordieri, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Murray State. We open with an introductory overview of depression, the myths about it, what causes it and various ways to address it on Sounds Good.
What is Depression?
Often depression is used colloquially to describe "feeling bad" or "feeling down," but in a clinical conversation it's treated as a severe illness. More than a mood, depression often comes with physical symptoms: low energy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating. It can affect all aspects of life, from the loss of interest in activities to difficulties in maintaining relationships.
Depression is a Medical Illness
With most diseases, a clear causal pathway is present. Lab tests can be run, results can be analyzed. But with depression, there may be multiply determined factors: genetic risk, changes in neurotransmitter levels in the brain and clear expressions in the environment. Some identifiable diseases that mimic symptoms of depression, like Hyperthyroidism can often be ruled out, but there is no clear medical test yet for depression.
"There isn't one sort of single test we can use to diagnose depression or predict risk. It really is the confluence of multiple factors coming together."
Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of disease burden, negatively affecting lives globally resulting in social and economic loss, so it is considered an international health priority by medical research institutions. Researchers are making a big push towards understanding the biological basis of depression and there is also quite a bit of evidence emerging supporting therapeutic intervention. Certain medicines have shown to be effective as treatment - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac, when compared to placebos. But, Dr. Bordieri says, this is an area where more research is needed. There is an emphasis of identifying depression as solely a biological disorder, but there is no definitive evidence to date.
Broad Misconceptions
One of the most dangerous assumptions is that it is not a real illness, that someone can just snap out of it. Dr. Bordieri says folks are often good intentioned when they say "think positive" or "brighten up things will get better" but that can often be invalidating. Usually, family members are the ones that take this approach, and while it's understandably difficult to see someone with depression, they need to understand that it is a real illness and not something that can just go away.
Another myth is that depression will just go away on its own. Sometimes it does go into remission, but Dr. Bordieri says it's something you'll want to address clinically and not simply wait for it to disappear as it could return and potentially become chronic. Therapy is known to be an effective treatment, and certain medicines have also been effective.
This is the first of a series of conversations about depression with Dr. Michael Bordieri, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Murray State. Dr. Bordieri's contributions to this series are strictly informational and should not be construed as any form of psychotherapy, counseling, diagnosis or treatment. Any health condition, including depression, should be evaluated and treated by a qualified professional in the context of an established professional relationship. On Monday, September 22 at 12:15 p.m. we'll explore what depression looks like, some of the common signs and features and raise awareness for things we can look for within ourselves and in our loved ones.
