Health Issues Linked to Depression
Common Medical Treatments:
The goals of treatment of depression include reducing the symptoms
of depression and facilitating the patient's return to functioning at
the level prior to the onset of illness. Usually the treatment of
depression includes psychotherapy and the use of pharmacologic agents.
The most commonly used medications for uncomplicated depression are the
tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs). If a patient is refactory to the actions of one agent, therapy
is often switched to the other. Of the tricyclic antidepressants, amitriptyline and imipramine
are the most extensively studied and used. All TCAs potentiate the
activity of norepinephrine and serotonin by blocking their re-uptake.
Because TCAs affect other receptor systems, anticholinergic,
neurologic, and cardiovascular adverse events are frequently reported.
SSRIs were developed from the perceived need for improved efficacy and
adverse effects profile compared with traditional TCAs. Patients who
fail to respond to TCAs often respond to an SSRI, and visa versa.
If a patient is unresponsive to either agent, others are considered, including buproprion, which blocks re-uptake of dopamine, mirtazapine, a tetracyclic antidepressant with mixed serotonin/norepinephrine effects, or a triazolopyridine (trazodone or nefazodone), which has a dual action as a serotonin antagonist and also a re-uptake inhibitor.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(phenelzine, tranylcypromine) are used in cases of atypical depression.
Clinical features of atypical depression that predict preferential
response to MAOIs include mood reactivity, irritability, hypersomnia,
hyperphagia, psychomotor agitation, and hypersensitivity to rejection.
Mood disorders, depression, and anxiety are common illnesses in our
society. Lost work time, family conflicts, personal strife, and other
consequences of the disease can eventually lead to complete disruption
of one's life. Depression and mood disorders have become increasingly
recognized as common, yet under-diagnosed and under-treated conditions.
-- The Nutritional Approach --
Foods that have been proven to help with Depression:
Dairy, turkey, soy, flaxseed, fish, and whole eggs products.
Nutrients that have been proven to help with Depression:
S-Adenosyl methionine (SAMe), 5-Hydrxytryptophan (5-HTP),
Phenylalanie, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Omega 3 Fatty Acids,
Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, St. John's Wort, and Ginkgo.
S-Adenosyl methionine (SAMe) is one of
the most studied non-drug antidepressants available today. SAMe is a
naturally occurring substance synthesized in the body from the amino
acid methionine. It is critical for the synthesis of neurotransmitters.
The excitement surrounding SAMe's effectiveness as a natural
antidepressant is balanced by the fact that it is a relatively costly
supplemenet, if the therapeutic dosage is maintained.
5-Hydrxytryptophan (5-HTP) and
tryptophan are the precursors for serotonin. Tryptophan is an essential
amino acid that the body cannot manufacture. Tryptophan is converted
into 5_HTP, which in turn is converted into serotonin. There is ample
evidence that tryptophan depletion causes reduced synthesis of
serotonin, which results in depression and other mood disorders.
Tryptophan is not available to the
general public as a nutritional supplement. Without tryptophan on the
market, 5-HTP has entered into the public's awareness as an effective
and natural therapy for anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. Either
substance can be used to enhance serotonin synthesis in the brain. It
is now recognized that 5-HTP is more effective at elevating serotonin
levels than tryptophan.
Phenylalanie and tyrosine are the
precursosrs to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and
epinephrine, which all influence and regulate mental and emotional
states. Tyrosine is synthesized from phenylalanine and this it is not
an essential amino acid. No large well-controlled studies on tyrosine
and depression have been conducted to date.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) appears to be safe and without significant side effects, however, long-term human trials have not been conducted.
Exercises that have been proven to help with Depression:
The link between exercise and depression has been the focus of many
scientific studies. This research repeatedly shows that exercise really
does help depression. Exercise has been shown to be as effective or
better in reducing depression symptoms as antidepressants, individual
and group psychotherapy and cognitive therapy.
Basic Plan for Depression:
- Eliminate sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
- Identify and eliminate food allergies.
- Exercise.
- Stress
reduction can take form in a variety or ways. Some of the more
structured forms include counseling, tai chi, yoga, meditation, and
deep breathing.
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