Tuesday, September 15, 2009
DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION & BIPOLAR
Depression and bipolar disorder are diagnosed
based on your symptoms. Testing of certain hormones
and basic blood tests can be helpful to rule out underlying physical
causes of changes in mood or fatigue. Your doctor will ask specific
questions to determine the severity of your mood disorder, and also to
understand associated symptoms and possible causes.
DEPRESSION
Depression
is defined as feelings of sadness, low mood, or loss of interest in
activities that would normally be enjoyable. If these symptoms
interfere with your daily life, and occur at least 4 days per week for
2 weeks or more, you may have depression. Along with the mood changes,
people with depression often experience the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite with weight loss, or increased appetite with weight gain
- Physical sluggishness or restlessness
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased desire for sleep, or difficulty sleeping
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide
DYSTHYMIA
Most people with
depression experience these symptoms for several weeks, and then the
depression lifts. Periods of depression can recur multiple times
throughout the year. If you have these symptoms continuously, rather
than feeling depressed for a shorter period of time, you may have
dysthymia. Dysthymia is defined as depressed mood that persists for 2
years or more, without a break in the symptoms. Low self-confidence
often plays a part in the mood problems associated with dysthymia.
People struggling with dysthymia can also have more intense depressive
episodes that come on in the midst of the dysthymia.
BIPOLAR DISORDER (MANIC DEPRESSION)
Bipolar
disorder is more rare than depression. This condition involves cyclical
periods of depression and mania. This is why it is called bipolar
disorder, meaning that the person has mood swings from one extreme
(depression) to its polar opposite (mania). People with depression
alone can have mood swings, irritability, or changes in energy; it is
important to distinguish mood swings from a manic episode. Symptoms of
mania include:
- Increased energy
- Inflated self-esteem
- Decreased need for sleep
- Impulsive, risky behavior
- Excessive, rapid speech
- Inability to concentrate with racing thoughts
- Restlessness and extreme irritability
- Excessive time spent in social or work activities
The depression symptoms last at least
2 weeks, and the mania lasts at least 5 days. Because of the increased
energy and inflated self-esteem, most people with bipolar disorder
actually enjoy the manic periods, because it is such a change from
feeling depressed. However, the impulsive, risky behavior can be very
detrimental to a person’s safety and well-being. These behaviors can
include gambling all of one’s savings, purchasing expensive items that
one cannot afford, or engaging in sexual promiscuity. Some people with
mania may not sleep for 3-4 days at a time, and can forget to eat or
take care of themselves. They may work all day and night for days, or
constantly go out to try to meet new people, to the point that it
damages their health.
There are two primary types of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar I involves cycles of depression and manic episodes. Bipolar II
involves cycles of depression and hypomania (symptoms similar to mania
but less intense or of a shorter duration). Bipolar II is more common
than bipolar I. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is based on your
symptoms, so your doctor will ask you questions to determine whether
this condition affects you. Tests may be performed to rule out other
causes of your symptoms.
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Tara Peyman is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in the state of Arizona.
She has an expertise in treating depression and anxiety with natural
medicine. Dr. Peyman has also developed comprehensive, naturopathic
programs for weight loss, diabetes and smoking cessation. She practices
at East Valley Naturopathic Doctors in Mesa (480.985.0000) and in Tempe
(480.456.0402). Visit www.DrTaraPeyman.com for more information.