Depression in Norway By Jørgen and Philip

What is depression Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well being. Typically, people with depression find it hard to go about their day to day activities, and may also find that life is not worth living. It is a chronic illness that usually requires long term treatment.

Diagnosis Major depressive disorder (MDD, also called clinical depression ) where a person has at least two weeks of depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities and a chronic depressed mood.

Symptoms Somatic symptoms include: fatigue, weakness, change in appetite, reduced sex drive, change in weight, insomnia Psychological symptoms include: Feeling sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritated, hurt or restless

Causes Biological: Monoamine hypothesis (Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine), thyroid disease, Unstable circadian rhythm, Genes, Psychological Low self-esteem, negative emotionality, life events, seasons (winter), Social Environment, child trauma, alcohol, drugs, stress, excessive work Evolutionary Social rank

Depression in Norway SAD – Season affective disorder Long winter, lack of sunlight 1/3 Norwegians experience depression at one point in their life. 1/3 of people getting unemployment benefits get it because of mental diseases Most common in the cities Most common in females 500-600 people commit suicide each year. (number 33 on the suicide statistics worldwide) Costs Norway 180 billion CZK a year (most expensive disease)

Treatment Self help groups Alternative methods music therapy, bright light therapy, exercise, yoga, acupuncture etc. Cognitive behavioral therapy Suicide watch and admission to an institution SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) Anti-depressive medication, common due to its mild side effects and their lesser toxicity in case of an overdose Increases the extracellular level of serotonin by inhibiting its reuptake into the presynaptic cell, causing a higher concentration of serotonin in the synaptic cleft available to bind the postsynaptic receptors. In extreme cases electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Creates small seizures in anesthetized patients Only used in extreme cases (e.g. suicide attempts and if the patient is not responding to other treatment)

Important factors for solving the problem. Information Awareness The reason why more women than men are diagnosed with depression is because it is more likely for women to go and get help.

Sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood) http://www.aftenposten.no/helse/Depresjon-koster-Norge-mest- 5586846.html#.Ul1kXGQpYaM http://www.fhi.no/eway/default.aspx?pid=239&trg=List_6212&Main_6157=6263:0:25,5767 &MainContent_6263=6464:0:25,5768&List_6212=6218:0:25,5775:1:0:0:::0:0 http://www.klikk.no/helse/doktoronline/psykiskhelse/article500128.ece http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder#Nordic_countries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor http://www.ssb.no/a/kortnavn/dodsarsak/tab-2012-10-19-01.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy