Toward an Understanding of Major Depressive Disorder

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Major Depressive Disorder is a chronic, persistent mental illness. EPIDEMIOLOGY Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or unipolar depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders seen in primary care but only half of all MDD sufferers seek medical help (Johnson Vanderhoef 109; Myers DeWall 520). NEED A TIE IN SENTENCE Incidence Prevalence. It is estimated that 5% of the United States (US) population (or approximately 10,000,000 Americans) are impacted by MDD making it the leading cause of disability in the US (Johnson and Vanderhoef 109). Unfortunately, 15% of MDD sufferers will commit suicide (Johnson and Vanderhoef 109). Thus, the importance of understanding MDD its role in mental health is crucial. Sex. Women are more likely to suffer from MDD than men. In fact, there is “a twofold greater prevalence of major depressive disorder in women than in men” (Kaplan Sadock 528). According to Kaplan Sadock, the reason for this imbalance is due to: (a) hormonal imbalances, (b) childbirth, (c) differing psychosocial stressors, and (d) behavioral models of learned helplessness (529). Age. Major Depressive Disorder can occur at any age, but the average age of onset is 40 years of age (Kaplan Sadock 529). Johnson and Vanderhoef suggest that many MDD sufferers begin having MDD symptoms between the ages of 20 30 (109). However, according to Kaplan Sadock, MDD can occur both earlier in life (childhood) as well as in old age (529). Marital Status. According to Kaplan Sadock, MDD occurs “most often in person without close interpersonal relationship or in those who are divorced or separated” (529). This lack of a close personal relationship may be the trigger that exacerbates MDD. Socioeconomic. Kaplan Sadock suggest that no correlation ... ... middle of paper ... ...elphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012. Print. "Depression (major depressive disorder)." Depression (major depression) Risk factors. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 27 May 2014. . Johnson and, Kathryn, Dawn Vanderhoef. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Review Resource Manual. 3rd ed. Silver Spring: American Nurse Credentialing Center, 2014. Print. Myers, David G., C. Nathan DeWall. Exploring Psychology. New York, NY: Worth, 2014. Print. Stahl, Stephen. Prescribers Guide: Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology. 4th ed. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2013. Print. Tusaie, Kathleen R., Joyce J. Fitzpatrick. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing: Integrating Psychotherapy, Psychopharmacology, Complementary Alternative Approaches. New York, NY: Springer, 2013. Print.

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