subject: Overcoming Clinical Depression: Treatment And Options [print this page] The rate of mental illness in the United States is on the rise.
Whether the actual epidemiological rates are increasing, more patients are seeking treatment, or doctors are simply diagnosing mental disorders more often remains debatable but reported instances of mental illness have undoubtedly increased over the past few decades. The most commonly treated of these are the mood disorders a broad class of disorders wherein the persons overall mood is affected. With a lifetime prevalence rate of almost 20%, major depressive disorder is one of the most common ailments treated by psychiatrists today.
Symptoms of depression vary, but typically include low moods, lack of appetite, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, changes in weight, lethargy and tiredness, and a loss of interest in once-favored activities. While some psychologists theorize that depression can arise from consistent negative emotionality and low self-esteem, resulting in a self-deprecating pattern of thought, others believe that an imbalance of brain chemicals called serotonin and norepinephrine are largely to blame. Some psychiatrists will prescribe medications to treat the chemical imbalance, some will recommend various methods of talk therapy, and some may prefer to treat the patient with both.
Though some may be reluctant to admit that they might have a mental illness, seeing a psychiatrist can be very beneficial for a patient with mood disorders. In her practice, Boca Raton psychiatrist Dr. Devra C. Mintz is passionate about her patients care and recovery with a strong focus on her patients concerns surrounding medications, she takes care to inform them fully about their conditions and treat them with a patient-centered approach. For depression sufferers considering treatment from a psychiatrist Fort Lauderdale psychiatric care provides a multitude of care options.
