Anxiety and Depression

PREVALENCE

ANXIETY DEPRESSION 16+ Million Adults in the U.S.

have anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder

affects 3-8% of the US population

The condition that most often coexists with another psychiatric condition; up to 90% of depressed patients experience symptoms of anxiety.

Nearly ½ of all cases begin in childhood or adolescence.

Women are nearly 2x as likely to be affected as men.

It is believed that 2-7% of the U.S. population may suffer from a depressive disorder within a 1 yr. period, though 10% or more of the U.S. population experiences symptoms of depression

While experts believe 80% of those experiencing depressive disorders can be helped, more do not receive help than do.

DEFINITION

ANXIETY DEPRESSION A Longer-than-usual period

of excessive worry and anxiety (more than 6 months) which a person finds difficult to control.

A diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder requires the presence of at least 3 of the following symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months.)

A mood disorder characterized by several symptoms which differ in length and depth from normal sadness or grief.

Two main sources of depression: psychological and biological. The result is the same no matter what the origin is: an imbalance of brain chemicals that regulate our well-being.

SYMPTOMS

ANXIETY DEPRESSION Muscle tension Restlessness or feeling on

edge Being easily fatigued Difficulty concentrating or

mind going blank Irritability Sleep disturbance (difficulty

falling asleep or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)

Muscle tension may cause patients to report “feeling shaky” and may experience trembling, twitching, and muscle aches or soreness.

Depression, often unrecognized in men, has a wide range of symptoms.

At least one of the first two must be present for a diagnosis.

Feeling depressed, irritable or angry almost every day

Losing interest in pleasurable activities or hobbies

Talking of death or suicide Talking very negatively or

being excessively critical Acting recklessly or without

concern for others

SYMPTOMS

ANXIETY DEPRESSION Somatic anxiety symptoms

are common and may include the following:

Dry mouth Clammy hands Sweating Nausea or diarrhea Urinary frequency Difficulty swallowing Exaggerated startled

responses

Behaving violently and picking fights

Abusing alcohol or drugs Withdrawing from family and

friends Losing interest in work or

school Talking suddenly about

separation or divorce Losing the ability to

concentrate Eating too much or too little Sleeping too much or too little

TREATMENT

ANXIETY DEPRESSION

The most effective treatment combines medication and psychotherapy.

Treatment utilizing medication therapy is initially a 6-12 month course of therapy, but some research suggests a longer course of use, even lifelong.

Since Anxiety is our body’s way of warning us of impending danger, Anxiety and Stress are often used as interchangeable terms.

Stress is our body’s way of responding to demands placed on us.

Anxiety is stressful; stress may cause us to feel anxious.

The most effective treatment for depression is believed to be a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are called SSRI’s, which work to increase serotonin levels in the brain.

Stress is the main factor involved in depressions that are primarily psychologically driven.

The most common type of stress that leads to depression is some type of trauma or loss.

Biological bases of depression include hormonal causes, certain physical illness, and the genetic predisposition of an individual to experience depression.

MEDICATION

ANXIETY DEPRESSION Some of the more common

drugs approved to treat Anxiety Disorders include: BUSPAR, EFFEXOR, PAXIL (for Panic Disorder and Social Phobia).

Prozac, Luvox, and Anaframil (for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), and Zoloft (for all the above and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

The most effective SSRI’s are EFFEXOR, LUVOX, PAXIL, PROZAC, AND ZOLOFT.

The generic names of these and other effective medications are called: fluvoxamine, sertraline, bupropion, fluoxetine, and paroxetine.

The older generation of antidepressant medications – tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and MAOIs are effective but have more side effects and dietary restrictions.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

ANXIETY DEPRESSION Cognitive therapy directly

addresses patients’ hypothesized cognitive distortions.

Behavioral therapy addresses somatic symptoms directly through techniques that gradually expose patients to a frightening stimulus.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients to understand their thinking patterns so they can react differently to anxiety-provoking situations.

Three types of short-term psychotherapies have proven to be effective in the treatment of depression.

Cognitive therapy focuses on changing the cognitive distortions that may contribute to depression.

Interpersonal therapy addresses current interpersonal problems to foster changes in relationships that may have caused depression.

Behavior therapy concentrates on changing maladaptive behavior patterns that may perpetuate depression.