Public Awareness of Major Depressive Disorder Although

¶ … Public Awareness of Major Depressive Disorder

Although they may not know it, most people will experience some type of depressive episode during their lifetime, and some people go on to suffer from a major depressive disorder that can have life-changing and life-threatening implications if left untreated. Fortunately, the research shows that a number of efficacious treatments are available for major depressive disorder, but early diagnosis and treatment are critical in helping people overcome this potentially debilitating condition. Unfortunately, many people may not even realize they suffer from major depressive disorder until it is too late. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview and background of major depressive disorder, and an alternative approach to the provision of clinical interventions for people who develop this condition. A summary of the research and important findings are provided in the conclusion.

Review and Discussion

Background and Overview

Like some other insidious diseases, people who suffer from major depressive disorder may not recognize the symptoms that are associated with the condition with those that are taking place in their own lives, by virtue of a lack of knowledge concerning major depressive disorder or the unique ways the symptoms are manifested. In this regard, Jacobs (2009) reports that "It is fundamental that the point of a DSM diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) (in this paper, major depressive disorder will include any and all DSM primary mental disorders) is not to note that the patient feels depressed or the patient's mood is depressed but rather that the patient is suffering from a distinct clinical entity -- a mental disorder-that exists whether the patient realizes it or not" (like diabetes)" (83). Irrespective of whether people know they have major depressive disorder or not, though, the consequences of the condition can be severe including suicide.

The high rate of comorbidity of major depressive disorder and substance abuse (particularly alcohol) is well documented (Kahler, Ramsey, Read & Brown 363). Likewise, there is a connection between major depressive disorder and the incidence of anger, aggression and domestic violence in the United States (Feldbau-Kohn, Heyman and O'Leary 347). The following factors have also been cited as potential causes of major depressive disorder:

1. Certain medical conditions, including underactive thyroid, cancer, or long-term pain;

2. Certain medications such as steroids;

3. Sleeping problems;

4. Stressful life events; and,

5. Social isolation (especially prevalent among the elderly) (Zieve and Merrill 1-2).

Some of the more common symptoms of major depressive disorder include the following:

1. Agitation, restlessness, and irritability;

2. Dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss;

3. Significant difficulty in concentrating;

4. Fatigue and lack of energy;

5. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness;

6. Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and guilt;

7. Becoming withdrawn or isolated;

8. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed;

9. Thoughts of death or suicide;

10. Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping; and,

11. If depression is very severe, there may also be psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions (Zieve and Merrill 3).

Major depressive disorder can be successfully treated in many cases with pharmacological and clinical interventions (Pasto & Burack 240). Other therapeutic interventions that have been shown to be effective in treating major depressive disorder include talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, light therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (still being studied), psychotherapy and support groups, and to a lesser extent, the use of electroconvulsive therapy which is becoming less frequent; typically, these therapeutic interventions are more effective when used in combination with other front-line treatments (Zieve and Merrill 3). Although it is possible that the condition remains significantly underreported, current prevalence estimates for all serious mental illnesses in the United States are depicted in Figure 1 at Appendix A.

Solution to the Problem.

The solution to the problem of undiagnosed major depressive disorder is clearly related to increasing public awareness of the condition and its danger signs. In an era of dwindling governmental resources for such initiatives, though, this need must be satisfied through the use of alternative funding approaches that avoid bureaucratic grant application processes and governmental regulations that restrict and control what information is provided in sponsored informational material. Therefore, grassroots initiative using social networking platforms such as Twitter and Facebook could provide a highly cost effective solution to this dearth of awareness of major depressive disorder on the part of the American public; moreover, this solution would also provide comparable benefits to healthcare consumers in other countries who are searching for timely information and guidance concerning the disorder. The tens of millions of Facebook and Twitter users can rapidly disseminate information concerning major depressive disorder by using reliable and peer-reviewed sources through links to online governmental and private resources in their communities. A typical Facebook user may have hundreds of online "friends" that receive postings, making this an especially effective way to transmit information among the general public.

Critics of this approach might argue that such social networking groups are subject to exploitation by third-parties using target marketing techniques, but these users are already enrolled in these social networking platforms and simply accessing information on a Facebook page and clicking on hyperlinks will not generate any unique personal identifying information. Furthermore, the empirical observations and personal testimonials posted by group members could help motivate people who believe they may suffer from major depressive disorder to seek the professional assistance they need to regain a normal lifestyle. In any event, group administrators would monitor the feedback and settings for the Facebook group page much as page editors do in open-source platforms such as Wikipedia to ensure that it is current and has not been modified by unauthorized users. Finally, this approach has been overarching benefit of being absolutely free.