Kinds of depressions

Generally, there exist two kinds of depressive disorders - endogenous depression, which is is related to manic-depressive illness and psychotic depression. In actuality, the differentiation between these two entities is considerably tricky, but this is expected when we consider that any primary psychiatric disturbance can be linked to secondary or reactive features and of these, depression is one of the most common. To simplify this relationship relays that in any given case, the patient is considered as having fourty percent endogenous and 60 percent reactive or neurotic depression. Leaving behind the figures for a moment, it is the endogenous component that’s integral, for the remainder is a reaction to it.

Complete recovery from depression

Successful treatment of endogenous depression is most likely to lead to complete recovery, whereas treatment directed simply at the reactive component can hardly be more then somewhat successful. The phrase ‘atypical depression’ has been used to describe a couple cases. It is only in the last 15 odd years that we have admitted how frequent depressive illness is. It’s thought that in general practise one may expect depressive illness that of every one thousand patients, 12 would come about as new cases each year. Older figures, usually hospital derived and hence making some allowance for milder cases, indicate that the presence of endogenous depression alone is 2% in women and 1% in men. It would be incorrect to indicate that depressive illness has become more common in the previous ten years; the much greater number of cases seen is a reflection of the fact that we have learned to comprehend its milder forms.

From diagnosis to a decision

As soon as the diagnosis of depression is determined, 3 related decisions should be made: can the patient be treated by a general practitioner or ought the case be sent for specialist care, is hospital administration required or is the patient suicidal.

Depression cures

A great number of cases can be treated by a general practitioner and truly their numbers are such that there is no alternative. Immediate referral to a consultant psychiatrist or even a psychiatric hospital is normally wise if the patient has strong suicidal ideas or has attempted suicide. Delusionary ideas of guilt, severe agitation, obvious retardation ideas of unworthiness or guilt and intense loss of weight are other marks. Failure to respond to proper doses of one of the antidepressant prescriptions over a period of say three weeks also makes referral recommended.

Cures and healing may usually be instigated during a period of sickness of after an individual has experienced one injury or the other.

The most common way to start cures and healing would be the administration of conventional medicines by a doctor or any other health professional.

However, alternative suggestions and practices exist that have varying levels of efficacy but are nonetheless viewed with some skepticism by medical bodies and persons worldwide.

People who claim this method of healing works attribute its efficacy to the use of various methods, some of which include, prayers, mental insights and certain spiritual practices. Such faith healing beliefs transcend sectarian and religious boundaries.

You find advocates in Christianity and among other religions as well, who believe that prayer and some other religious rites play some part in the cures and healing process.

Unlike other religions who make use of prayer and other spiritual practices along with medical recommendations.

Adherents of the Christian Science Movement believe that prayer and religious practices alone can heal an individual and this position is heavily criticized by doctors and other professional medical personnel who feel such beliefs are a danger to the public.

In certain cases by people who capitalize solely on the gullibility and desperation of others in order to make some quick money.

Conventional science has continued to state that there is no medical evidence to support the veracity of claims made by faith healers except perhaps the medically defined explanation of the Placebo Effect .