Depressione Maggiore: Segni da Cogliere, Farmaci e Psicoterapia - Cosa è la distimia

Other videos by Prof. Giaquinto: http://www.medicinaeinformazione.com/... http://www.medicinaeinformazione.com/ Very often, when we talk about depression, we mean a subtle sadness and melancholy, a feeling common to all human beings, which, especially at certain times in life, can be prone to pessimism. However, in reality, depression, or major depression as it is medically defined, is a complex pathology with specific neurochemical alterations, sometimes with genetic and familial origins, sometimes triggered by life events such as bereavement, pregnancy, or violence. We discuss depression with Professor Salvatore Giaquinto, former Professor of Neuropsychiatry at Sapienza University of Rome, who explains how crucial it is to identify distress at its earliest onset—the symptoms are highly characteristic (asthenia, apathy, apathy, adonia, anorexia, etc.) and are associated with mood disorders—to prevent depression from leading to such a compromised state of mind that it puts the patient at risk of suicide. The role of family, the professor explains, is crucial in supporting the patient without aggravating the guilt that often accompanies depression with phrases that tend to encourage them ("Come on, you're okay, let's go out, do something, try harder...") and instead only serve to further isolate them. The treatment plan should be decided based on the biochemical component of depression—an alteration in neurotransmitters, in which case pharmacological therapy is preferable. If the depression is reactive to a stressful event, cognitive behavioral therapy may be considered. However, this requires a long time to be successful, so if the depression is in an acute phase, pharmacological therapy can be combined. With Professor Giaquinto, we also discuss the most common events underlying depression, those triggers that trigger an already latent process, such as a significant loss—from bereavement to separation—or a pregnancy (where, however, the chemical and hormonal component is well known, so prompt treatment with medication is essential), or even simply advancing age, when a chronic and possibly disabling pathology makes it difficult to find the motivation to move forward. In conclusion, the Professor explains what dysthymia is, a mild form of depression that has no acute phases but continues over time with subtle but constant symptoms, and explains how it can be managed over time.