Depression is a sustained mood state of a significant level of sadness and despair, which is more serious and long-lasting than normal transient periods of sadness related to outside events. Also known as clinical depression. Depression is a severe medical problem that is very different from the transient negative moods that many people experience that pass within a day or a few days in relation to a problem, such as the serious illness of a family member or the loss of a job.

Individuals who have major depressive disorder have an increased risk for substance abuse or dependence.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in their 2006 report on the numbers of people with mental disorders in the United States, major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability among individuals ages 15-44 years in the United States. NIMH estimates that 14.8 million U.S. adults ages 18 and older are affected by major depressive disorder, or about 6.7 percent of the adult population.

Depression can occur at any age, but the median age of onset is age 32. Women are about twice as likely to suffer from depression as men. Depression is highly responsive to treatment, and an estimated 80 percent of patients who have depression can improve with treatment. However, often depression is undiagnosed and untreated. Individuals may not realize that they are clinically depressed or may wrongly believe, because of their depressed mood state, that nothing and no one can help them. For this reason, it is important for others to urge a person who may have depression to seek professional help.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health for 2004, individuals who have had at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year are much more likely (28.8 percent) than those who have not had an MDE (13.8 percent) to have used an illicit drug in the past year. In addition, substance abuse or dependence was much more likely among people who had an MDE (22.0 percent) than those who had not had an MDE (8.6 percent).

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among those ages 12 and older in the United States with a major depressive disorder, 62.3 percent received treatment in the past 12 months.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health also provided an estimate of persons who have serious psychological distress (SPD), which included individuals who had a high level of distress that was caused by any type of psychiatric problem. According to this report, there were 21.4 million adults ages 18 and older who had SPD in 2004. The researchers also reported that SPD was highly correlated with both substance abuse and substance dependence. In 2004, among adults who had SPD, 4.6 million people (21.3 percent) were dependent on or abused illicit drugs or alcohol. The rate among adults who did not have SPD and substance abuse or dependence was 7.9 percent.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), individuals who have major depressive disorder may exhibit the following signs and symptoms:

- persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood

- lack of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex

- restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying

- feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, and pessimism

- sleep disorders, such as sleeping too much or too little, and early-morning awakenings

- change in appetite, causing weight gain or weight loss

- decreased energy, fatigue, a feeling of being "slowed down"

- thoughts of death or suicide or actual suicide attempts

- talk about suicide (such talk should always be taken seriously and further explored)

- difficulty with concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

- persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to medical treatment for these problems, such as frequent headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

- inability to enjoy activities that have provided enjoyment in the past

Most physicians, such as internists, neurologists, and pediatricians, treat depression, although psychiatrists are the most adept practitioners at the diagnosis of depression and are also the most knowledgeable about the treatment and appropriate medications. The physician who treats depression will seek to determine the severity and duration of the depressive symptoms. Individuals who are extremely depressed and are talking about a wish and a plan to die may need to be hospitalized in a psychiatric facility for their own safety, lest they attempt suicide.

References:

National Institute of Mental Health. "The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America," 2006.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. Rockville, Md.: Department of Health and Human Services, September 2005.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Drugs and Drug Abuse at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Drugs and Drug Abuse and other relevant topics.