World Mental health day is observed every year on October 10 to raise awareness on mental health disorders. World Mental Health day theme for 2007 is “Mental Health in a Changing World: the Impact of Culture and Diversity”. World Mental Health Day was started by World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. Basic aim of this day is to educate people on mental health issues and their consequences. Family and friends play crucial role in the diagnosis and management of mental illnesses by providing proper support. But most of them have no idea on the symptoms of mental illnesses. We concentrate more on physical health but not on mental health. We can prevent most of the suicides if we have basic knowledge on the symptoms of depression and other mental disorders. According to World Health Organization, 25% of the world population is suffering from mental illnesses. But only 40% of these cases are diagnosed and treated. 1 million annual suicides are the result of these undiagnosed or missed cases. Most common causes for these suicides are depression, dementia, anxiety and Schizophrenia. There is a severe shortage of well qualified counselors and psychiatrists to diagnose and treat mental health disorders especially in developing countries. There is a heavy loss of work days and consequent productivity loss due to these mental illnesses. I hope Mental Health Day will create more awareness on mental health disorders among general population. … [Read more...]
Mental health disorders took toll on working days
Mental and physical illnesses are taking big toll on the working days of employees thereby causing monetary loss to companies. 50% of Americans on average is losing 32.1 working days a year due to 30 different illnesses. So, 3.6 billion days a year are lost due to these diseases of which mental illnesses account for 1.3 billion days. This was revealed in a survey by Harvard Medical School researchers. The results are published in the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. Survey was conducted on 6,000 adults over age 18. Depression is the major mental illness while neck and back pain is the major physical illness that is responsible for loss of so many work days. But researchers have not given any guidance on monetary impact due to loss of these work days. Physicians failed to diagnose mental illnesses properly. 75% of elderly patients who committed suicide were consulted doctors just before one month. But doctors failed to diagnose the underlying mental illness and treat it. Depression is the major factor for these suicides. How many work days lost due to mental disorders? Depression took toll on 387 million working days while 214 million days lost due to social phobia. 113 million work days lost due to post traumatic stress disorder (POST), 110 million days lost due to generalized anxiety and 103 million days due to bipolar disorder. Panic disorders accounted for 101 million while substance abuse took toll on 93 million working days. Chronic conditions like cancer (71.5 million), heart attack (204 million), stroke (221 million), and vision loss are also taking so many work days of people. Governments should spend more money to study the diagnosis and treatment of the musculoskeletal conditions and psychiatric disorders. … [Read more...]
Depression-most common chronic disease
According to the recently conducted survey by the W.H.O, under the name as: “World Health survey”, in sixty countries all over the world, the main chronic health problem affecting the people is, “Depression”, compared to other four important diseases, viz: pain in chest, joint pains, asthma and diabetes. If depression and diabetes occur in one person, the trouble is much more. Age: Depression occurs at any age of the individual. Sex: 30 % of the males are affected, where as 40% females are affected. Signs and symptoms of Depression: Often many of us feel some sort of emotions in our daily life but certain persons are not in apposition to cope up with them and develop depression. 1. The person appears to be in “dull” mood and feels “helplessness’’. 2. Loss of interest on any thing and also without any enthusiasm. 3. Often feels weakness and vigor less. 4. Feeling tiredness even after doing minimal labor. 5. Loss of self-confidence and also self-esteem. 6. Future appears as hopeless and often feels apprehension. 7. Not able to get sound sleep and often getting irregular sleep with disturbances. 8. Loss of appetite, discomfort in the stomach and loss of weight, are also present. 9. Disinterest in sexual desires and acts. 10. Not mixing either with friends or known persons. They prefer to spend lonely. 11. Often in anxiety and tension. 12. Often is of the opinion that living in this world is waste and feels miserable. 13. Gradually develops the “Suicidal Tendency” and sometimes harms himself physically. Physicians should always keep it in mind, that if any person comes with a certain physical ailment, they must also look for the signs of depression if at all present in that patient. Treatment for Depression: There has been a lot of improvement in the methods of management of the depression in the last twenty years. Safety anti -depressant drugs are available now. The other procedures are counseling and psychotherapy by the experts, along with the drugs are also available. The Most common diseases present in the adults: 1. Depression: 9.4% 2. Deafness: 5.5% 3. Eye-sight problems: 5.2% 4. Joint pains: 3.2% 5. Paralysis: 2.7% 6. Forgetfulness: 2.6% 7. Bad effects of pregnancy: 2.5% Life is not a bed of roses, but full of thorns. So we have to face them, whatever may be the consequences and try our level best to overcome them. Rest is left to God, the omnipotent. Human life is a God given gift and is a rare opportunity to us and not to waste it by day to day problems and depression, etc. … [Read more...]
Breast cancer drug for bipolar disorder
The breast cancer drug, Tamoxifen, has shown its effectiveness in treating the manic episodes of bipolar disorder. More than 5 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder. These findings came from a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 16 patients with bipolar disorder with or without psychotic features. Bipolar disorder is characterised by alternate periods of severe depression and mania. These people are high risk cases for suicide as highs of a manic episode might be followed by a period of depression. Lithium is the drug of choice for bipolar disorder. But it is ineffective in some cases with more side effects. How Tamoxifen is effective against bipolar disorder? Protein Kinase C (PKC) in the brain cells activates receptors on the surface of brain cells and modifying how well they receive signals. Tamoxifen inhibits the action of PKC. Biggest advantage of Tamoxifen is it can cross blood brain barrier. 63% of the patients who received Tamoxifen had reduced manic symptoms during the three week trial, only 13% of their control counterparts given a placebo showed this improvement. And the Tamoxifen appeared to have this impact quickly – within five days. By comparison, current drugs to treat manic episodes generally take at least a week to produce an effect. Tamoxifen itself should not be used as a treatment for bipolar disorder as it interferes with the hormone oestrogen. It can cause early menopause. Tamoxifen causes endometrial cancer on prolonged usage. More clinical trials should be done to develop a drug that can inhibit Protein Kinase without any effect on estrogens. Chelerythrine, PKC inhibitor, is in the early stages of clinical trials. Tamoxifen is the best drug for breast cancer patients who are suffering from manic-depressive disorder. … [Read more...]
Depression is more harmful than Diabetes and angina
According to first global research study on the health impact of depression, it is more harmful than chronic diseases like Angina, Arthritis, Asthma and Diabetes. This extensive research study was conducted by World Health Organisation. Undiagnosed and untreated depression will cause more damage than some major chronic diseases put together. Results of the research study were published in the September 8 issue of Lancet. WHO conducted this research study on 2, 50,000 persons across 60 countries. Depression is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living. It often leads to constant negative thinking and sometimes substance abuse. People suffering from chronic diseases likely to be depressed and this depression disturb the mental and emotional aspect of patient life. Depressed patients less likely follow treatment regimen and may not consult doctor making the situation much worse. Depression statistics: 1. 70% of depression cases are generally misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. These undiagnosed persons will suffer more health impacts than diagnosed ones. 2. 3.2% of people had experienced a depressive episode in the past year. 3. 9-23% of people had depression in addition to another chronic disease. 4. Less than 30% people are diagnosed and receive treatment while 70% misses diagnosis. Depressive patients should take either pharmacological treatment (anti-depressants) or psychological treatment (cognitive behavioural therapy). Better treatment for depression would greatly improve people’s overall health especially if they have chronic illnesses. This research study highlighted the urgent need for intensive care for depression patients. There should be more CME programmes for physicians on diagnosis and treatment of depression. … [Read more...]
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