Self-Management Of Depression Essay Discussion Paper
Picot Question Discussion
The PICOT question I chose to evaluate is: In women with Major Depression, How does a daily self-help tool compared to medication management alone affect the patient’s mood? This PICOT question is interventional. It addresses depression in women with major depression, and the efficiency of daily self-help tool over medication management, on the patient’s mood. The reason this study focused on women with major depression is that women are more prone to agonize (worry, linger on, or retread negative thoughts). This might seem like pessimistic self-talk, unexpected bursts of crying, thoughts of guilt, or self-blaming. Women are also more inclined to face depression at the same time as anxiety disorder, like obsessive-compulsive conduct, eating disorder, or panic disorder (Albert, 2015). Therefore, there is a need for determining whether a daily self-help tool can affect women’s moods Self-Management Of Depression Essay Discussion Paper.
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The common definition of depression is that it is the result of dynamic interactions of environmental and biological risk factors. However, the contemporary conceptualization of depression has been distorted by media today to convince individuals that it is merely a “chemical imbalance” that needs to be addressed by taking drugs that “restore the imbalance” (Duggal, 2019). This has resulted in a misconception that antidepressant medications are the only form of treatment for major depression. The fact, however, is that the response rate for antidepressants is estimated to be 54 percent and that for placebo is around 37 percent (Duggal, 2019). The relapse rate, often known to be the target for antidepressants, also poses a startling image, with just 37 percent of individuals with major depression remitting after the first antidepressant trial and corresponding remission rates are much lower with subsequent treatment approaches. This does not mean that antidepressant medication is not an efficient approach for managing depression and that patients stop taking medication or stop seeking medical help. However, it demonstrates that medications alone can never treat depression. Therefore, a daily self-help tool is needed to complement medication management to manage depression by bolstering the patient’s mood. The most significant components of a daily self-help tool include information (educating oneself and family about depression), symptom management (self-monitoring of symptoms), and lifestyle (exercise and leisure activities), and communication (communication strategies and assertiveness) (Duggal, 2019)Self-Management Of Depression Essay Discussion Paper.
Depression is different from other chronic illnesses due to the stigmatization assorted with it and its impact on identity and self-esteem. The key symptoms entail the loss of motivation, decreased interest, and reduced level of energy, and are much more severe than those of other health problems. Hence, it is disputable whether general self-help tools like those used in the CDSMP are pertinent to depression (Houle et al., 2013). Research also suggests that, provided the alternative of psychotherapy and medication, individuals with major depression will choose psychotherapy as they believe that it offers them a potential for personal interaction and to address the issue behind depression. Self-help also shows significance in the context of recovery. The idea of mental health recovery has broadened from the classical meaning of clinical symptoms absence to mood changes that include: feeling empowered, feeling connected to others, taking accountability for one’s life, development of personal significant objectives, the reestablishment of a positive identity, and hope for the future (Jorge-Monteiro & Ornelas, 2016) Self-Management Of Depression Essay Discussion Paper.
Conclusively, medication management of depression can enable a patient to reach the therapeutic cut-off for depression remission on rating scales, but improving mood always will always be a patient-centered model. This is where a daily self-help tool assists in complementing the conventional treatment approach for depression. In addition, self-help tools may be utilized as a prophylactic technique for people at greater risks of experiencing depression or those with past depression episodes to avoid occurrence, recurrence, or regression of major depression Self-Management Of Depression Essay Discussion Paper.
References
Albert, P. R. (2015). Why is depression more prevalent in women?. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience: JPN, 40(4), 219.
Duggal, H. S. (2019). Self-Management of Depression: Beyond the Medical Model. The Permanente Journal, 23.
Houle, J., Gascon-Depatie, M., Bélanger-Dumontier, G., & Cardinal, C. (2013). Depression self-management support: a systematic review. Patient education and counseling, 91(3), 271-279.
Jorge-Monteiro, M. F., & Ornelas, J. H. (2016). Recovery Assessment Scale: Testing validity with Portuguese community-based mental health organization users. Psychological assessment, 28(3), e1. Self-Management Of Depression Essay Discussion Paper