Depression

website for educationalists and psychologists & Site Internet de psychopédagogie  

Depressive Illness

Depressive Illness -- What Is It?

Everyone experiences variations in mood -- transitory blues, disappointments, the normal grief that accompanies the loss of someone you love. But a severe or prolonged depression that interferes with the ability to function, feel pleasure, or maintain interest is not a mere case of the blues. It is an illness. Researchers have demonstrated that it results from biochemical imbalances in the brain.

Depressive Illness Is Treatable

More than 80 percent of those suffering from Depressive Illness can be treated successfully with modern medications. These medications are not habit-forming, do not produce a "high", and are not abused. Sometimes, after or concurrent with this treatment, therapy or counseling is desirable.

Millions Suffer, Few Are Treated

Depressive Illness, also referred to as Affective or Mood Disorder, attacks millions of Americans and is often fatal; yet few people are being properly treated or even diagnosed. The costs of this neglect, both in terms of human suffering and economic loss, are staggering.

A Major Unrecognized Health Problem

Depressive Illness is among the most common and destructive of illnesses prevalent in the United States today. In addition to major depression, many people suffer from manic depressive illness (bipolar disorder) which is characterized by radical mood swings from severe depression to exaggerated, inappropriate elation.

• An estimated 35-40 million Americans living today will suffer from major Depressive Illness during their lives. For each person directly suffering, three or four times that number of their relatives, employees, associates, and friends will also be adversely affected.

• Of those 35-40 million afflicted, a substantial percentage will commit suicide if not treated with appropriate medication.

What you can expect to experience during the course of psychotherapy depends upon the theoretical orientation which your therapist adheres to as well as the modality employed.  The following are brief summaries of some of the major orientations and modalities you may find.

Theoretical Orientations:

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral approaches use learning theory to create changes in behavior.  The goal of behavioral therapy is the unlearning of unwanted behaviors (thoughts and feelings can be regarded as behaviors) and learning of desired behaviors in their place.  Maladaptive behaviors are weakened and adaptive behaviors are strengthened incrementally through reinforcements until a stable behavior change has occurred.

Cognitive Therapy

A cognitive approach to therapy seeks to alter maladaptive thought patterns, such as overgeneralization or wishful thinking.  This approach emphasizes rationality and a positive outlook.  It is especially effective for anxiety and depression.

Existential Therapy

Existential therapy deals with some of the major issues in our existence, such as the meaning of life and mortality.  It focuses upon taking responsibility for our own choices and creating meaning and purpose in our lives.  It is particularly useful for people who are coping with issues of death and dying.

Psychoanalytic Therapy

This is the orientation founded by Sigmund Freud.  A therapist using this orientation seeks to help the patient understand how the forces at work in their unconscious affect their conscious life with the idea that once the patient consciously understands these forces, they will be able to make choices about their lives rather than being at the whim of these unknown forces.  This type of therapy involves frequent meetings and may continue for years.  Therapists say little, but rather guide the patient in finding meaning in their own dreams, free associations and other expressions of unconscious material.

Psychodynamic Therapy

This approach is based upon psychoanalysis; however, it allows for mixing of orientations, is shorter in duration and practitioners are more communicative than psychoanalysts.

Eclectic Therapy

Eclectic simply means that the therapist picks and chooses from a variety of orientations according to what works best for the patient.

Modalities:

Individual Therapy

This modality involves one-on-one work between patient and therapist.  It allows the patient to have the full attention of the therapist, but is limited in that it does not allow the therapist an opportunity to observe the patient within social or family relationships.

Family Therapy

This approach is most useful when it is necessary to work on dynamics within the family group.

Group Therapy

Group therapy generally involves anywhere from three to fifteen patients.  It offers patients the opportunity to give and receive group support in coping with their particular issues as well as to observe how they interact in group settings.  It may also be a less expensive alternative to individual therapy.

Couple's Therapy

This type of therapy is geared towards married couples and those in significant other situations who desire to improve their functioning as a couple.

Copyright © 1998 www.orthopedagogiek.com te 's-Hertogenbosch NL
Laatst bijgewerkt: 19 maart 2008