Drug therapy of depression and anxiety disorders

Introduction to the study

1.1.   Introduction

One of the mental illnesses affecting almost 10-15% of the population usually emanate from mental disorders. While it is common to spot people who suffer from such disorders the main gong should be to determine the cause of depression which in most incidences are caused by being too anxious.

This study purely aims at discovering in depth how these conditions emanate and even become prominent and hard to control. In this chapter, a full background information which forms the bedrock of thus research paper is also exclusively outlined. This chapter also deals with several materials of benefit to the study including various statistical approaches which this paper heavily borrows from. The significance of this research work is also towed along.

1.2.   Background information of the study

Many people have been through the bustles of life with quite a heavy heart. While others get over their fuss, others carry them to their hearts and eventually piling up stress. Such stresses emanate from work places, schools loads and even family and social affairs. Either way, they contribute a lot to the upsurge if individuals who are mentally-disturbed.

Others will resort to drugs to find reprieve. Other will have long periods of loneliness as show their distraught. All in all, this condition can be medically categorized as an illness and requires therapy to go through.

This is a kind of condition in which the mind is unrelaxed. Long periods of worrying or being stressful makes the leading cause of anxiety. They have a number of symptoms which affect majority of the excess 10-15% of the population. Sometimes, an individual feels continued headaches, constant worried and fears which may be undescribed. This are the main symptoms per say.

Dietary changes for most people is another viewpoint. A sudden shift in eating patterns: either too much food or lower eating habits are very big suspicion agents that one could be in for depression and anxiety. A sleeping disorder called insomnia is another sign that gives the lights for depression. Insomnia can be defined as condition where the affected individual has uncouth sleeping habits usually privy to intoxication with hard drugs or long periods of thinking and stress. It is quite obvious that dietary changes accompany insomnia a great deal.

With all these sufferings, there is light at the end of the tunnel though. With a distinct tell-it-all research, like this study reveals there are ways to curb depression. Since both illnesses go hand in hand, they should be treated at the same time. Otherwise, they may end up to be very hard to work on including the resulting medication that those involved are exposed to.

Studies in the United States have revealed that the common illness that affects the average person is depression. When computed, 40 million people have been approximately diagnosed with depression and this is an alarming rate considering the adversity of this condition (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).

Annually, 18.1% of people each year register an incident of depression to various health units and personal physicians as research has discovered. Such values are quite high for the larger population variation (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).

It is also good to recognize that an accompanying condition in the name tag of anxiety has a definite cure. What is even fascinating is the fact that only 36.9% of the affected masses are seeking therapy and rehabilitation for the worst cases (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Such revelations also tip that for every ten people, almost four people are affected and the other two at very high risks of being victims.

This study also tells of how people with anxiety are more likely to end up in psychiatric ward and undergo medication for what is termed as mental disorder than the depression patients. Those who suffer from depression have a lower risk of being hospitalized. Their ranges fall to three or five times for them to be checked into psychiatric units.

It is prudent to also realize that while anxiety is a broader term, there are segments of which people may be anxious. These are also worth recognizing due to the amount if influence they derive. Others could be social disorders, phobia and post-traumatic stress and even generalized anxiety disorders.

Children are not an exemption either. Those between ages of 13 and 18 have also been subjects of this illness (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The resulting situations include poor class work, low grades and loss of self-esteem. Almost 36.1% of children are affected and their condition is worsening each day. While they undergo untold suffering, most teenagers have been unable to share their predicament which makes them even more vulnerable.

The older members of the community are not exempted as well. Their levels and that of younger adults is the same. While theirs is a result of acute illnesses and other chronic infections, younger ones have not so pressing issues, mostly determined as financial and social needs. Actually, they mostly suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.

On a worldwide view, almost 75% of victims do not report their situations to any health facilities or practitioners especially in most developing countries (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). With such laid back attitudes, the developing world is losing millions of people approximately one million per year with deaths associated with mental disorders. This also means that little action and in fact no realizations are being made to address this issue which is a big menace.

The World Health Organization, accredited with the responsibility of studying such cases pertaining Health reports that one out of every 14 people worldwide is suffering from anxiety (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). It is even better to realize that phobias are the leading caused from such statistics.

1.3.   Problem statement

While acceptance of a conditions is the first step towards healing, other precautions should be taken to fall in line with treatment. The labor forces is being wiped out. Other nations like the developing countries obviously feel the pinch of such losses especially when viable young people who can work and produce the requisite skills in their quest for bettering their economies. There is need to develop therapies, enlightenment if the masses and bring such common yet unspoken illnesses to limelight. Researchers have to embark on serious studies to find out why people are suffering in silence and the best way to offer therapies in the most plausible way. Other than making treatment they should also discover ways to make treatment in such a way that the patients are not only relieved on their conditions but also follow ups to make sure they impact a great deal.

• Research objectives
  • General research objectives

The general research objective of this study is to establish legitimate ways of offering therapies to anxiety and disorder victims as well as bring to light those who may be suffering in silence or unwary of what has befallen them.

1.4.2. Specific research objectives

1. To establish the approximate number of cases of depression and anxiety
2. To assess the impact of drug therapy in treatment of anxiety and depression
3. To realize any methods of finding and enlightening those who are affected by depression and anxiety.
4. To establish follow ups and the toll of drugs on the patients in recuperation

1.4.3. Research questions

1. How many cases of each individual disorder (anxiety and depression) are registered?
2. What is the impact of drugs in context of treating depression and anxiety?
3. Are there ways to reach people who suffer quietly and make them aware that whatever they are traversing through is mental illness and not normal conditions?
4. How do patients fare on after taking medication and how are these drugs taking toll on the patients?

• Significance of the study

A close up research on the objectives of this study is the bull’s eye. This study wishes to impose medication on patients who undergo suffering in limbo of their situations. It also aims at revealing in depth the methods of administration which when put to practice will save lots if people from such suffering. This will also keep victims especially those suffering from anxiety from slide backs which are all possibilities. Follows ups will save patients the rigors of having to take medication without a leeway to bring a sense of belonging and reprieve especially when they are recuperating. These attempts wishes to save the developing world from loss of lives which is a setback to progresses their countries are making towards a better vision.

Chapter Two

• Literature review
  • Generalized anxiety disorder

Just as the name goes, this disorder is not specific. One way to read someone who suffers from such a condition is his they react to matters. They are overly and give unwanted feelings usually expressions of worry and fear. While it is normally possible to embrace a situation heatedly, giving an impression of fear is not normal. Such a disorder may cause feelings of irritability, restlessness and insomniac like symptoms. Sleep is not normal and in most cases such individuals feel withdrawn from the community (Gale, Millichamp, 2011).

One way such a condition may be realized is after long periods of substance abuse usually hard drugs. By making sure that drugs used do not have long period of usage which may lead to intoxication, medics have to observe patients quite keenly. When someone worries over an everyday menace like for over half a year that alone us enough to term that generalized anxiety disorder. This piece evaluate some methods of going about such unwarranted drug abuse which are very good causative agents.

In a typical setup, ages of nine and eight are the most vulnerable to attack though at this stages the disorder is mild. Other physical signs are sweating throughout at the feet and hands as we as axillae (Merikangas and Kalaydjian, 2009).

• Specific phobias

A phobia can be defined as a chill creating mechanisms where one feels tensed whenever something shows up or stimulation of certain kinds are being witnessed. They are limitless number of phobias which are disorder as well. They are created by illusions usually wild and send fear whenever they come up. One such way is through animals, certain fluids or even certain foods. The experience is usually a strained one considering the amounts of adrenaline rush one experiences. One way to combat such methods is by enrolling for therapy which is significant in getting individuals back to their normal states.

In extreme cases, fear can be tumultuous to phobia though the latter is a worse experience. It should however not be a point of confusion to differentiate between normal fear especially that associated with most females and phobias (Merikangas and Kalaydjian, 2009). The former is a super natural reflex one has while the other is induced with the amount of drug abuse one engages in.

• Panic disorder

To panic is to be in a state of restlessness. Thy can be said to be intense fear and apprehension. Such fears are unconfirmed and the individual in most cases is taunted by the turn and twists of events surrounding them. It can be caused by fear of the unknown, extreme exercises and sometimes even very bad thoughts. In most cases, such triggers are uncalled for and act without any notice. An abrupt sense of such nerving experiences may cause fear and trembling. Shaking is also part of the problems that accompany this processes. There is a constant fear of something in the future yet unknown and is hard for an individual to tell exactly what is going on. When there are changes in the heartbeat, individuals perceive this as a nonexistent things and cause brief and all of a sudden attacks.

• Agoraphobia

It is an exact impulse where one feels there is no way out of a solution. They could be in a place or events and the result is there is no way out of such a menace. It is usually associated as a panic disorder though it involves a specific place where the person or victims feel embarrassed. They are no ways out and an individual has to bear the shame of those surrounding him or her. This also means they can stop whatever they were doing abruptly even if it means stopping in the middle of traffic and leaving their vehicles. This poses lots of concerns considering the tricky nature of this situation. It is also a condition which leaves most at a standstill.

• Social anxiety disorder

Following the name tag, this one also features phobia from the public or outward view of an individual. This majorly relate to how one perceives themselves in a society and the corresponding perception of themselves (Merikangas and Kalaydjian, 2009). Most of such sources include previous embarrassing encounters such as spilled secrets or when their predicament (usually) negative comes to light of the public. This fear could also be derived when making public speeches or worse still when all eyes are on an individual. Of is easier to spot due to its signs. They are inclusive of stammering, shaking and difficulty in speaking. In extremities, the hands become wet and the body trembles. Sweating accompanies this event and the person may break down when it becomes too much to bear.

In some cases even the evaluation of the body by other people is enough to send chills running down their spines. This disorder is an exclusive for most females in their teen years.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Coined from the middle name, this experience occurs after a trauma: an event that does not go away from the mind. This events make it somewhat hard for an individual to do their duties well especially if it was an ugly scene. Such events are inclusive of rape, theft or human torture. In most cases, females are privy to attacks though males should stay in the alert as well. Other aspects which encompass life as a whole include bullying or horrible, grisly accidents in which victims survive (Gale, Millichamp, 2011).

Some could be even murder cases under their watch. The result is a perturbed mind, especially if they played a part in the creation of the disaster. Images of the events may continue piling up with research showing that even after years of the incident, it may still not GI away. A witty example are soldiers who survived an attack in the army or at war and most of their accomplices were killed in the war. Such a memory does not fade away despite the turn and twist of events that life may probably take.

• Depression

Basically this is the reason why most suicide acts are registered. This means having a sense of low esteem and averting from the normal routine of an individual. Such moody attitudes affect the life of individuals, making sure they do not go about their normal duties as scheduled. This is a product of long term stress which has no age limits (Gale, Millichamp, 2011). Sometimes the individual is distraught and feels life has reached full stretch. Most of these moods are awakened by life turning incidences like duping of lovers, death of a member of the family deemed important or even pregnancies. Sometimes failure to achieve things as they are desired becomes the reason why people get into depression. It has been realized that a financial recess on an individual could most likely affect the brain and individuals may go into a comma when it becomes excess.

Though it is not a preserve for at ages, younger adults and teenagers are the most registered individuals with findings showing the average teen has something deep going into the mind. Lack of leaning shoulders and people to explain for fear of reprisals is what has held them back in their quest to have such predicament brought to light.

This may also mean that the shift to love for drugs could also most likely to be the causing agent for such depressions. Obesity has also been attributed to personal stress-a key ingredient for depression to hit rife.

Chapter Three

1.7.   Methodology

• Introduction

The methodology below will define various means of targeting, collection and analysis of data to reach a finding with various solutions following thereafter. To generate plausible and correct data sets, the right research techniques has to be applied in the data collection process is also aimed at making very distinct progresses in finding suiting information that will help to analyze the context of this research paper.

• Research design

Under this topic, various methods have been employed to ensure that unbiasedness is kept at bay while obtaining accurate and reliable data. The various ways of collecting such data aha also been embedded on true lying facts and methods which will turn fruitful.

With the research questions requiring answers, this designs will love to the field in attempt to seek information to help curb the context of this research. There are various methods inclusive of focus groups and questionnaires with an aim to fulfill-answer research questions.

• Target population

These are specific groups of people who were deemed by the author as fit to partake the study. In this case, focus was bent on people who have depression and registered anxiety from various perspectives. The uniqueness of information from health officials and institutions were also very useful especially in fulfilling the desire to achieve the main objectives of this study.

Real life experiences also formed parts of the author’s visions to bring their plights to book. Cooperation with both practitioners and health officials was welcomed in making this research paper fulfill its primary needs a great deal.

• Sampling methods

Samples were used to ascertain the amounts of depression one was undergoing at the time of the research work. For every ten willing people a search was carried out and their levels of intoxication also tested. The selection as aforementioned was not in any basis but as long as the age bracket was suiting.

• Tools for data collection

There were to methods used by the researchers to obtain information regarding the paper. Primarily was to pick records from various sources, mostly health practitioners who have been keeping records for quite some time. Records from state-owned institutions proved worthwhile as well making sure that no hindrance was allowed. The second set of data was the secondary. They were direct from various field research methods that were employed. They were obtained from their activities and neatly stored in password locked computers to avoid any kinds of aversion or interference.

Other methods were focus groups where individuals gave reality testimonials which were also good for this research study. This also gave ample time to study those affected even from their modes of speaking and presentation. While some people could not take questionnaire, they were able to speak and their voices recorded. These were also transcribed into meaningful works which helped break the research work further.

• Data analysis

This refers to transfer of information which is raw from field into those that can be tabled for appropriate workings and relation. In most cases patients reported how they have been using drugs especially in combating the depression and anxiety incidences. They also showed their levels of confidence in the drugs they were consuming and his good they would help them change for the better.

Chapter Four

• Findings

The questionnaire below highlights some of the findings of this research:

This research involved seventy people all of whom were chosen randomly. Results from various institutions also contributed to this data scale which is better too. Audios were also listened to keenly and their views were tabled.

From the findings above, it is prudent to note that several people acquire checkups from institutions of health. Following up is also quite distinct to ensure that the usage of drug is as per rules of compliance. Most of them also receive visits regularly to describe how they are responding to therapies. They also recall of give they came up with very good means of meeting health practitioners who have helped them overcome their tragedies.

Most of them also take drugs as led scheduled with a few exceptions however. This van be understood however. There were mixed views especially about the attendance to health knots to establish the amount of stress one is undergoing from time to time. Most people admitted having walked into such institutions over a couple of months due to stress relates complications.

They also accepted having found cures while others still were in the dark and assumed stress was short time and would go away. The amounts of stress witnessed for certain individuals was hard and didn’t allow for the interview or group questions to go in well.

Chapter Five

1.9.   Discussions, Conclusions and Recommendations

1.9.1.      Introduction

This chapter discusses the results obtained in chapter above. It also offers conclusions and recommendations by synthesizing the objectives of the study and the findings. The chapter also elaborates if the hypotheses was proven right or wrong.

• Discussion of results

The research questions were answered by the finding published above this chapter. It is in most situations that other individuals are not aware of their complications. They are still lunging in stress without knowledge that their situation has worsened. Many people admitted being under therapy and using most of their time engaging in such processes like taking drugs. Others also take drugs as long as they feel which highly challenges the question on their awareness of intoxication.

Treatment of anxiety

There are several antidepressants used to treat anxiety but choosing the best one is the only way out of keeping future attacks from being reoccurring. For example SSRIs have proved quite useful in the therapy process. Most of these drugs poses high rates of dependence and tolerance which would mean that uses in extreme doses also matches the compliance use. Proper action should therefore be taken as proof of the complying needs as per rule. This will mean the rates of addiction will go down tremendously while prepping the desired effects. They should not be used for longer periods as we due to the amount of addiction they can cause.

It should also be recognized that drugs come with a significant amount of side effects. They include drowsiness, sometimes irritation and loss if concentration in the extremes. This makes sure that they are no longer able to produce the desired effect. Antipsychotic drugs can be used in the treatment of anxiety both in mild situations and the extremes. They act in both disorders and symptoms cases.

Treatment of depression

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the major drugs to fight depression. Others include selective serotonin and norepipherine inhibitors which all work well in the treatment of such disorders. Though it doesn’t enjoy preference, deplin has turned out good especially in treatment of such illnesses. The rich sources of vitamin B, L-methylfolate is what makes it more preferred due to its ability to relax the nerves and establish full control of moods of patients.

• Conclusion

It is therefore quite open that the intake if drugs forms the basic part of the therapy then it should be stuck to. There are other usage methods which should be made open for the users to imply for their requirements. Dosage and amounts can be written for people who have difficulty in establishing the type of drug to take.

Individuals can also be guided by family members who are more experienced especially when they are seeking medication. Most people have assumed to have a clean bill of health but are burning from inside which makes it even hard to treat them. Younger children especially teenagers should also come out despite efforts to discover those who are affected.

• Recommendations

The government should step up its game and ensure as many citizens as possible receive awareness. There is also another group of participants who need urgent care. They should be absorbed into rehabilitation centers first so that they undergo the process of detoxification so that they become able to underground go stress removal.

Campaigners and the media should also take it in their view to improve the awareness of stress. Since it is a common disease, it should be accorded as much help as possible so that lives are not lost.

The world health organization should also take it in full ability to look after those who are affected and give them a new reprieve of life. Those who are affected should take it in their view to offer as much help as possible to enable practitioners to help them break down such disorders

2.0. References

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Anxiety disorders. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., text rev., pp. 429-484. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Gale CK, Millichamp J (2011). Generalized anxiety disorder, search date May 2011. BMJ Clinical Evidence.

Iacoviello BM, Mathew SJ (2010). Anxiety disorder. In EG Nabel, ed., ACP Medicine, section 13, chap. 1. Hamilton, ON: BC Decker.

Merikangas Kr, Kalaydjian AE (2009). Epidemiology of anxiety disorders. In BJ Sadock et al., eds., Kaplan and Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of

Psychiatry, 9th ed., vol. 1, pp. 1856-1864. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2013). Social Anxiety Disorder: Recognition, Assessment, and Treatment. London: National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence.