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We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

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Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#11

Post by Mithrandir »

imperio59 wrote: post #3

Where are the clinical tests for depression? The diagnosis is solely based on the opinion of the practitioner, there is no brain scan or chemical test that can conclusively prove that someone is suffering from depression. The so called "drugs" used to treat depression are no better, they "are thought to work" (big pharma phrases it this way in their own TV ads) by re-balancing the brain's chemistry, but in actual fac…

Note: The video linked to by parent is by CCHR, a known Scientology front group[1]. Doesn't mean they're necessarily right or wrong, just thought people should know.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_Commission_on_Human_R...

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#12

Post by ekianjo »

eriksank wrote: post #8

It seems to be culturally dependent too and related to education as well. There seems to be less of an epidemic in the part of Asia where I live.

I am not sure which part of Asia you are referring to, but in Japan there is "depression boom", at least judging by the increased amount of anti-depressants being sold.

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#14

Post by [deleted] »

imperio59 wrote: post #3

Where are the clinical tests for depression? The diagnosis is solely based on the opinion of the practitioner, there is no brain scan or chemical test that can conclusively prove that someone is suffering from depression. The so called "drugs" used to treat depression are no better, they "are thought to work" (big pharma phrases it this way in their own TV ads) by re-balancing the brain's chemistry, but in actual fac…

[deleted]

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#15

Post by jtchang »

ekianjo wrote: post #9
jtchang wrote: post #6

The problem with depression is that it is hard to diagnose. If anything we are still in the dark ages of mental illness. If you have an infection we have a way to tell you what infection. Right now there is no way to test for depression. More scientific research is definitely needed.

We are no more in the "dark ages of mental illness". You must be kidding. Before we used to burn people who were mentally deficient and heard voices or had hallucinations as they were thought to be possessed by the Devil. That was the "dark ages of mental illness" you are talking about. There is now information, testing, diagnostic methods everywhere available, and efficient medication. Keep yourself up to date.

How do you definitively test for depression?

Are the diagnostic methods pretty good? Both accurate and precise with very low false positive rates?

Is the medication proven to work for depression?

Sorry but I think a lot of that can be argued that we are still shooting in the dark. I want a test for depression like I test for strep throat. AND I want the "cure" to be repeatable.

Yes we are still in the dark ages.

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#16

Post by zopticity »

Depression has different stages. Sometimes it's easy to get out of depression. I'm sure we all experience it at our "low" points during different stages of our lives. From failing a startup or death of a family member.

The depression that we can't get out of alone -- when we lose all hope for everyone -- that's the hardest to fight. Losing your will to live can quickly lead to suicide. And it's hard to tell from someone else's perspective that you're suicidal because you've pushed everyone away.

I think the only cure to the second form of depression is to practice a healthy state of mind everyday. Enjoy life and friends that are close to someone. Always share your problems with a close person (someone you truly trust). You must have the will to live. Giving up isn't the answer to all your problems because someone else will have to inherit your problems. Which isn't fair for that someone!

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#17

Post by chaostheory »

ekianjo wrote: post #9
jtchang wrote: post #6

The problem with depression is that it is hard to diagnose. If anything we are still in the dark ages of mental illness. If you have an infection we have a way to tell you what infection. Right now there is no way to test for depression. More scientific research is definitely needed.

We are no more in the "dark ages of mental illness". You must be kidding. Before we used to burn people who were mentally deficient and heard voices or had hallucinations as they were thought to be possessed by the Devil. That was the "dark ages of mental illness" you are talking about. There is now information, testing, diagnostic methods everywhere available, and efficient medication. Keep yourself up to date.

He's not completely off. Psychology is still in its infancy. That's putting it lightly.

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#18

Post by jwdunne »

jtchang wrote: post #6

The problem with depression is that it is hard to diagnose. If anything we are still in the dark ages of mental illness. If you have an infection we have a way to tell you what infection. Right now there is no way to test for depression. More scientific research is definitely needed.

A test can't be done in a lab on bloods but most of the time you can usually see the signs simply by observation and just talking to the person.

I say the real problem is that it's hard to treat.

When you see a close family member or friend suffering, you can't force them to go the doctors, where depression would certainly be diagnosed, and many often just don't go.

The standard set of medication for depression usually takes a couple of weeks to kick in. It's common to see symptoms worsen before they get better during this timeframe. It's gut wrenching to watch if you have personal experience with it.

Effective therapies require effort from the sufferer. If you're feeling really low, it's hard to the put the effort into anything - drops in personal hygiene standards are not rare.

It sucks we don't have a test for it like we have for physical disease but I think a bigger problem is treatment, which is done in a "see what works" manner if the first line of defence doesn't work, which is really damaging when you consider the above.

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#19

Post by DanBC »

zopticity wrote: post #16

Depression has different stages. Sometimes it's easy to get out of depression. I'm sure we all experience it at our "low" points during different stages of our lives. From failing a startup or death of a family member. The depression that we can't get out of alone -- when we lose all hope for everyone -- that's the hardest to fight. Losing your will to live can quickly lead to suicide. And it's hard to tell from some…

Grief is normal. Grief is an appropriate reaction to a lifetime event. Grief normally subsides after a time; it's still there, but not overwhelming.

Depression is not normal. When you still feel overwhelming grief years after the event, and it's affecting your everyday life and preventing you from functioning, then it's depression.

> I think the only cure to the second form of depression is to practice a healthy state of mind everyday.

I sort of agree - mindfulness and CBT techniques can be used everyday to help prevent depressive thinking.

Re: We Need to Have Sympathy for Those With Depression. It is an Illness

#20

Post by jtchang »

jwdunne wrote: post #18
jtchang wrote: post #6

The problem with depression is that it is hard to diagnose. If anything we are still in the dark ages of mental illness. If you have an infection we have a way to tell you what infection. Right now there is no way to test for depression. More scientific research is definitely needed.

A test can't be done in a lab on bloods but most of the time you can usually see the signs simply by observation and just talking to the person. I say the real problem is that it's hard to treat. When you see a close family member or friend suffering, you can't force them to go the doctors, where depression would certainly be diagnosed, and many often just don't go. The standard set of medication for depression usual…

And what I'm getting at is the fact that there SHOULD be a blood test. Or a biopsy. Or something more concrete.

Is it not possible? I'd like scientific research to say that it is impossible.

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