UNDERSTAND AND PREVENT DEPRESSION
COURSE
Hippocrates in 400 BC established that everything we suffer comes from the brain – it always has been, and always will be, ‘all in the mind’.
CHAPTER ONE
1.Introduction
2. What is depression?
2.1 Frequently asked questions about depression
2.2 Types of depression
2.2.1 How doctors classify mental illness
2.3 Symptoms of depressive illness
2.3.1 How depression affects how you feel
2.3.2 Insomnia
2.3.3 Loss of drive
2.3.4 Loss of weight
2.3.5 Tiredness
2.4 Diagnosis of depressive illness
3. Who gets depressive illness?
3.1 Depression in children
3.2 Adolescence and depression
3.3 Women
3.3.1 Postnatal problems
3.4 Men
3.5 Elderly
3.6 Bereavement
3.7 Post-traumatic stress disorder
3.8 Other medical disorders
3.8.1 Seasonal affective disorders (SAD)
3.8.2 Chronic fatigue syndrome
3.9 Alcoholism
3.10 Drug abuse
3.11Schizophrenia
4. Causes of depression
4.1 Genetics
4.2 Neuro- (brain) chemistry
4.2.1 Theories of depression
4.2.2 Neurotransmitters
4.2.3 Simpler explanation
4.3 Some psychological theories of depression
4.3.1 Psychoanalytical theory
4.3.2 Learning theory
4.3.3 Cognitive theory
4.3.4 Social factors
4.3.5 Life-events
4.4 Physical illness and depression
4.4.1 Depression and dementia
4.4.2 Epilepsy
4.4.3 Depression learning disability
4.4.4 Multiple sclerosis
4.4.5 Parkinson`s disease
4.4.6 Stroke
4.4.7 Trauma
4.5 Other medication and depression
5. Self-help
5.1 At home
5.1.1 General
5.1.2 Hobbies
5.1.3 Relaxation
5.1.4 Exercise
5.1.5 Diet
5.1.6 Treats
5.1.7 Getting help
5.2 At work
5.3 With other people
5.4 At night
5.5 Self-help tactics for early signs of mania
5.5.1 General
5.5 2 Sort out your sleep
6. Treatment of depression
6.1 Choosing your doctor
6.2 Choosing your treatment
6.3 Antidepressant treatment for depression
6.3. 1 General questions
6.3.2 Types of antidepressant
6.3.3 Prozac
6.3.4 Lithium
6.3.5 Safety
6.3.6 Side effects
6.3.7 Addiction to treatment
6.4 Other forms of therapy
6.4.1 Psychotherapy (Counseling)
6.4.1.1 Questions about psychotherapy
6.4.2 Behaviour therapy
6.4.3 Cognitive behavior therapy
6.4.4 Neurolinguistic programming
6.4.5 Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
7. Alternative (complementary) medicine
7.1 Herbal remedies
7.2 Light therapy for SAD
7.3 Diet
7.4 Alternative modes of treatments
7.4.1 Reflexology
7.4.2 Aromatherapy
7.4.3 Hypnotherapy
8. Hospital treatment
8.1 Compulsory treatment of someone with depression
8.2 Hospital staff
8.3 Going into hospital
8.3.1 Admission
8.3.2 Physical examination
8.3.3 Tests
8.3.4 Treatment in the hospital
8.3.4.1 Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
8.4 Leaving hospital
9. Having time off and getting back to work
9.1 Sickleave and sicknotes
9.2 Benefits for sickness
9.3 Getting back to work
10. Self-harm – difficult times for you and your family
10.1 Dealing with someone with depression
10.2 Careers – looking after yourself too
10.3 Self-harm
10.4 Suicide
11. Anxiety states
11.1 Generalised anxiety
11.1.1 What causes it?
11.1.2 Treatment of generalized anxiety
11.1.3 Practical intervention
11.1.4 Psychotherapy
11.1.5 Anxiety management training
11.1.6 Drug treatment
11.2 Panic disorder
11.3 Phobias
11.3.1 Treatment of phobias
11.4 Burnout and stress
11.5 Obsessional compulsive states
12. The future
12.1 Neuroscience
12.2 Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS)
12.3 Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
CHAPTER TWO
1. Glossary of terms
2. Useful references and websites
3. Useful publications and Internet information
