endogenous depression

depression /de·pres·sion/ (de-presh´un)

1. a hollow or depressed area; downward or inward displacement.

2. a lowering or decrease of functional activity.

3. a mental state of altered mood characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, and discouragement.depres´sive

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agitated depression  major depressive disorder accompanied by more or less constant activity.

anaclitic depression  impairment of an infant's physical, social, and intellectual development resulting from absence of mothering.

congenital chondrosternal depression  congenital deformity with a deep, funnel-shaped depression in the anterior chest wall.

endogenous depression  a type caused by an intrinsic biological or somatic process rather than an environmental influence, in contrast to a reactive depression.

major depression  major depressive disorder.

neurotic depression  one that is not a psychotic depression (q.v.); used sometimes broadly to indicate any depression without psychotic features and sometimes more narrowly to denote only milder forms of depression.

pacchionian depressions  small pits on the internal cranium on either side of the groove for the superior sagittal sinus, occupied by the arachnoid granulations.

psychotic depression  strictly, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, such as hallucinations, delusions, mutism, or stupor; often used more broadly to cover all severe depressions causing gross impairment of social or occupational functioning.

reactive depression , situational depression a usually transient depression that is precipitated by a stressful life event or other environmental factor; cf. endogenous d.

unipolar depression  that unaccompanied by episodes of mania or hypomania, as in major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder; the term is sometimes used to denote the former specifically.

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endogenous depression

n.

A group of symptoms that resemble depression but are not precipitated by a stressful experience, especially psychomotor agitation or retardation, insomnia and early morning awakening, weight loss, excessive guilt, and lack of reactivity to one's environment.

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depression [de-presh´un]

1. a hollow or depressed area.

2. a lowering or decrease of functional activity.

3. in psychiatry, a mental state of altered mood characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, and discouragement; distinguished from grief, which is realistic and proportionate to a personal loss. Profound depression may be an illness itself, such as major depressive disorder (see also mood disorders), or it may be symptomatic of another psychiatric disorder, such as schizophrenia. adj., adj depres´sive.

Depression is closely associated with a lack of confidence and self-esteem and with an inability to express strong feelings. Repressed anger is thought to be a powerful contributor to depression. The person feels inadequate to cope with the situations that arise in everyday life and so feels insecure.

Treatment of profound and chronic depression is often very difficult, requiring in most cases intensive psychotherapy to help the patient understand the underlying cause of the depression. antidepressant drugs such as imipramine hydrochloride (Tofranil) and amitriptyline (Elavil) are often used in the treatment of profound depression. They are not true stimulants of the central nervous system, but they do block the reuptake of neurotransmitter substances, which may potentiate the action of norepinephrine and serotonin. monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are also used. When antidepressants fail, a different technique such as electroconvulsive therapy may be used in conjunction with the psychotherapy.

Patient Care. Mild, sporadic depression is a relatively common phenomenon experienced by almost everyone at some time, but hospitalized patients are particularly susceptible to feelings of depression and a sense of loss and despair. Early signs of depression of this kind include pessimistic statements about one's illness and its prognosis, refusal to eat, diminished concern about personal appearance, and reluctance to make decisions. When depression is noted in a patient, it should be listed on the treatment plan along with suggestions for resolving it.

When patients are depressed, they are likely to isolate themselves and avoid social contact even with those who are trying to help them. Since loss of contact with others contributes to depression, members of the health care team should persist in attempts to talk with these patients, by asking them questions, and actively listening when they attempt to express their feelings. One should be especially careful to avoid being judgmental when the patient does express despair, anger, hostility, or some negative feeling. Above all, it is important not to be condescending or to respond to statements with a meaningless cliché such as “Don't worry,” or “I'm sure everything will turn out okay.” These responses convey a lack of empathy with the patient's suffering and are an unrealistic approach to a problem that is very real.

Physical contact and touching may be misunderstood by depressed patients. Sometimes, it is better just to sit with them and calmly observe them without making them feel uncomfortable. Honest dialogue and expressions of support and concern can often improve their mood and sense of self worth.

Severely depressed patients usually express three basic feelings associated with their mental state. These are a lack of desire for socializing or physical activity, feelings of worthlessness and loss of self esteem, and thoughts of self-injury or destruction. In planning the care of the depressed patient, one must always consider these feelings and strive for some understanding of the reasons for the patient's behavior. Only by gradually gaining their attention and pointing out encouraging signs of progress can they be helped in their early attempts to return to reality and socialize with others.

Physical inactivity will require attention to adequate nutrition, a normal balance of fluid intake and output, proper elimination, and good skin care. Patients will need help in maintaining good personal hygiene. Severely depressed patients may be totally out of touch with reality and completely unresponsive to anyone else's presence. In such instances the health care provider may be able to do little more than demonstrate caring and empathy by remaining with the patient.

Consistency of care is helpful to depressed patients. They know what to expect, and thus are not repeatedly disappointed when their expectations are not met. An example is consistency in scheduling and carrying out treatments and routine care at the same time each day. A supportive family and interested friends should be involved in choosing and planning activities that are helpful.

Constant vigilance must be maintained to prevent the profoundly depressed patient from injuring himself or committing suicide. Self-destructive behavior is a manifestation of the patient's feeling of worthlessness and loss of self esteem. An awareness of the potential dangers in such a situation should help the provider plan and provide a safe and congenial atmosphere, remaining alert to the early signs of a patient's intention to harm or destroy himself. In most cases suicide is most likely to occur when the patient is recovering from severe depression.

agitated depression major depressive disorder characterized by signs and symptoms of agitation, such as restlessness, racing thoughts, pacing, hand-wringing, sighing, or moaning.

congenital chondrosternal depression a congenital, deep, funnel-shaped depression in the anterior chest wall.

endogenous depression a type of depression caused by somatic or biological factors rather than environmental influences, in contrast to a reactive depression. It is often identified with a specific symptom complex—psychomotor retardation, early morning awakening, weight loss, excessive guilt, and lack of reactivity to the environment—that is roughly equivalent to the symptoms of major depressive disorder.

major depression major depressive disorder.

neurotic depression one that is not a psychotic depression. The term is now little used but has been used sometimes broadly to indicate any depression without psychotic features and sometimes more narrowly to denote only milder forms of depression (dysthymic disorder).

postpartum depression moderate to severe depression beginning slowly and sometimes undetectably during the second to third week post partum, increasing steadily for weeks to months and usually resolving spontaneously within a year. Somatic complaints such as fatigue are common. It is intermediate in severity between the mood fluctuations experienced by the majority of new mothers and frank postpartum psychosis.

psychotic depression strictly, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, such as hallucinations, delusions, mutism, or stupor. The term is often used more broadly to cover all severe depressions causing gross impairment of social or occupational functioning.

reactive depression a usually transient depression that is precipitated by a stressful life event or other environmental factor, in contrast to an endogenous depression.

retarded depression major depressive disorder characterized by signs and symptoms of psychomotor retardation, such as burdened movements and slowed, toneless speech.

situational depression reactive depression.

unipolar depression a type that is not accompanied by episodes of mania or hypomania, such as major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder. The term is sometimes used more specifically as a synonym of major depressive disorder.

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endogenous depression

Melancholia Psychiatry A form of depression that occurs either de novo or without external events severe enough to warrant the degree of depression Clinical Pervasive sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities; physical Sx–weight loss, insomnia, reduced libido; in ED, there may be an ↑ 'threshold' to stressful life events that requires little external input to initiate recurrence. See Depression. Cf Reactive depression.

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Patient discussion about endogenous depression.

Q. How long does it take to get rid of depression after taking medication? my husband in major depression from the past one month . Now he is hospitalized and taking medication every day the last two weeks. Even now he seems to be depressed and he tried for suicide twice he always thought of suicide and he doesn’t want to return to work .is it possible to recover from depression after one month & to go to job again . i am really worried about his suicidal ideation. please help me .

A. Probably no two people are exactly alike. When I was first diagnosed many years ago, and started taking Prozac at the minimum dose, my doctor told me it would take about 4 weeks for the medication to build up in my body. But there were noticeabe effects within a few weeks. It was kind of weird for me at first. The medicine made it so I was able to be more expressive and less fearful of what others who had previously regularly "pushed my button". They were not able to do anymore. My wife thought the medicine was making me "crazy" and wanted me to stop taking it. But my doctor explained that it really was not that way and that I was finally after so many years beginning to express myself and not holding back and keeping it all in. I trusted my doctor and kept on the medication and it did work.
There probably will not be an instant transformation. It may very well take years to get better. I probably be on my current medicine, Effexor, for the rest of my life. But it

Q. What damage does depression do to the brain and how can you treat it? How does it affect your chemical balance, your brain? Is it critical or will be critical later in life? I just read on Yahoo News that Clinical stress could increase risk of Alzheimer's later in life. Does age matter like during teen years? I had depression and begun running. I noticed that I have a hard time focusing and absorbing information. I forgot a lot of things. All my brain seems to focus on is emotions. Can I change that? The running has made me feel a lot better afterwards

A. What you describe is considered as an attention disorder. But it’s very understandable while being on a depression episode. If it’s not on a depression episode- then it was strange… I suffer from depression for the last 12 years and I’m not sure I saw a real change in my cognitive abilities. But I’m not so sure…good idea about the running! it releases Endorphins which elevate mood.

Q. What's the difference between the depressions of the bipolar disorder and clinical depression? How can I differentiate between the two? Thanks

A. When it persists past several major bouts, it is then called "chronic" and yes, from one who has it, it can go on for many years. You keep hoping that it won't come back but it hits you and you never seem to know why. After many good days, you think its gone and life will be good again and you get hope for getting off the medicine, and then out of no where, whamm, bamm and it knocks you down again, sometimes really down there with your face in the dirt. I just keep taking my medicine, pray alot, and stay away from stressful things.