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Major Depressive Disorder Among College Students
Major depression is a mood disorder that leads to an obstinate feeling of sadness and even loss of interest in anything for over two weeks. Major depressive disorder is referred to as one of the major causes of disabilities all over the world. It is also regarded as one of the leading mental disorders in a lot of college students. Depression in college students is mostly associated with poor performance in their academics (Gao et al., 2020). These students are susceptible to depression since they are faced with a lot of pressure to balance their social lives and mental well-being, academics, and even extracurriculars. This happens at a point when they are living away from home for the first time and the support system they are used to is long gone. Moreover, with the recent cases of the pandemic, college students found it depressing to transition to online learning as their colleges and campuses were closed.
It is very important to identify signs of depression during the college years since this is when the symptoms develop first. Most of the signs include changes in thoughts and moods, physical symptoms, and even behaviors. Studies have discovered that 1 in every five students who have lost weight is suffering from depression (Sexton & Adair, 2019). Difficulties with decision-making, memory, and thought of suicide and death are also considered the major leading symptoms of depression. However, there is a solution that can treat all these symptoms of depression, even if it might take a lot of time to discover the perfect mental health treatment for college students. Mostly, depression is highly caused by a combination of environmental, genetic, psychological, and biological factors (McElroy et al., 2018). Biological factors can tell if a person is suffering from mood disorders or mental health conditions. However, genetic disorders play a very vital role in the same.
DSM-5-TR is the typical classification of mental health disorders that is used by professionals in America. For every disorder that is included in DSM, a couple of diagnostic criteria show symptoms that must be seen for more than two weeks for it to qualify for a certain diagnosis. It also comprises statistics that involve the impact of the treatment, the sex that is usually affected by the disorder, and the approaches that are commonly used. Just like the insurance companies need a specific diagnosis so that they can approve payment for the mental health condition. Some of the symptoms that are included in this disorder are a slowing down of thoughts and even a reduction in the physical movement observed by others. Feel of inappropriateness almost every day and sometimes feelings of excessive guilt. For an individual to receive a complete diagnosis of depression, these symptoms must cause the individual to show significant distress and even impairment in occupational, social, and other essential areas of functioning.
Depression is classified according to its seriousness that is from mild, temporary cases of sadness to severe and mostly persistent depression. Clinical depression is the most dangerous type of depression, which is commonly known as major depressive disorder. Major depression is not normal compared to the loss of a loved one or as a result of a medical condition. To diagnose major depressive disorders, professional applies the symptom criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Disorders. Studies have proven that 10% of Americans suffer from the disorder, whereas more than 20% have a lifetime prevalence (Fawcett et al., 2020). An estimated 21 million people who are adults in the United States had one case of a depressive episode (Fawcett et al., 2020). The cases of the prevalence of major depressive disorder were higher in the female adults than in male adults. Ormel et al. (2021) argued that the prevalence of adults that had depressive disorder was higher and more popular among people between the age of 18 and 25 years which was translated to 17%. Moreover, 15.9% of individuals who have been reported to have a prevalence of major depressive disorders are from more than two races (Ormel et al., 2021). The figure below shows the prevalence of major depressive cases among adults above the age of 18.
Even though major depressive disorders commonly occur in adults, they can also happen at any age. The average age at which the onset of major depressive disorders occurs is 32 years (Mikhaylov et al., 2022). This is after research has been conducted and more than five symptoms have been seen for a period of more than two weeks. Moreover, depressive symptoms must persevere for more of the time, mostly every day, and lead to problems associated with social interactions. However, for people who suffer from mild depressive disorders, their occupational and social functioning might appear normal. For an individual who has experienced only one episode of the disorder, that case is considered Major Depression, Single Episode. Nevertheless, individuals who experience a single episode are known to express multiple episodes in the future. For instance, college students are faced with stress from the pressure to secure a job, failed relationships, and even their financial status. This is the major cause of recurrent depressive disorders that tend to happen every time among college students.
Depression is a very complicated disorder that is associated with very serious problems. It usually gets worse if a person suffering from it is untreated, causing health, emotional, and even behavioral problems in their day-to-day lives. There are various problems that are associated with depression, such as personality changes and memory difficulties. Loss of interest in sex, fatigue, sleeping problems, and loss of appetite are also associated with major depressive disorders. Some individuals are known to isolate themselves socially with a lot of suicidal feelings and, at times, suicidal attempts. Others that do not have the courage to attempt suicide tend to perform self-mutilation on themselves, such as cutting their skin. Victims who are suffering from major depressive disorder also tend to have difficulties establishing any relationships, mostly with their family and friends. As a result, prolonged problems such as drug use or recreational drugs increase if this disorder is not treated for a long time.
There are some commonly employed procedures that are used to screen for depression as well as to measure the severity of the disorder. When an individual gets to the point of visiting the doctor as a result of the disorder, tests are undertaken by professionals to test the severity of the disorder. However, not all the tests are considered depression tests; some of them are used to check the brutality of the disorder. The doctor usually undertakes a physical test and inquires for certain lab tests to make sure that the patients depression symptoms are not linked to conditions such as vitamin D deficiency, thyroid diseases, and even other diseases. There are more online tests that include a brief questionnaire that greatly helps in assessing and screening the severity of depression.
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a free and online test that is usually used for screening and measuring the seriousness of the major depressive disorder. It is also used to track the effectiveness of a certain treatment plan that is being used by professionals to treat major depressive disorder. An online Mood Disorder Questionnaire is also used to rule out if an individual has bipolar disorder and if the disorder is severe or not.
PHQ-9 indicated a very good validity and reliability rate among the patients that were suffering from a major depressive disorder. This method is very easy and simple to use as it only requires some questions that assist in checking the severity of the disorder. These tests have been designed by psychologists and Psychiatrists in America who have witnessed their success (Schuler et al., 2018). The online test has also been used in a lot of studies, mostly in primary care environments and even with older people with physical disabilities. It is usually available online in more than thirty languages that including English. Some of the items that add up to the validity of this test are the extent to which a person has encountered a depressed episode most in the past two weeks. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) has been validated in more than three studies that have shown a huge variability in its sensitivity.
Medications and mostly psychotherapy are the most effective treatment procedures for individuals that are suffering from depression. A psychiatrist or a primary caregiver can prescribe some medications that are used to relieve the signs and symptoms of depression. However, if a person has some severe cases of depression, a hospital stay is usually very advisable, or an outpatient program that helps relieve this disorder. There are various types of antidepressants that are available, they include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Atypical antidepressants, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SSRIs are the first option that a doctor usually uses to prescribe to a patient who has recorded major depressive disorders. This is because this drug is very effective and is regarded as one of the safest that causes lesser side effects as compared to other antidepressants.
There are various types of therapy that are available in the treatment of this disorder. Most of the common methods applied in the treatment of major depressive disorder include interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Usually a blended approach is normally used so as to reduce the severity of the disorder effectively. For instance, interpersonal therapy is a very unique and effective therapy used by an individual to integrate their thoughts and relational and family experiences. On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy involves talking therapy with a professional that can assist a victim of the disorder in changing their behaviors and the way they think.
This approach is commonly used for patients with depression and anxiety disorders; however, it can also be used for physical and mental health issues. It is very effective in identifying the prevailing thought patterns and even in changing these thoughts. Psychodynamic therapy is a very essential and useful approach that includes the accommodation of a clear understanding of an individuals thoughts, emotions, and even other mental processes. It works better since it helps individuals attain a better understanding of how they think as well as how they feel. Once this understanding is improved, people can have better thoughts and make informed choices about their decisions.
Scientific evidence has proven that psychodynamic therapy is very effective and even highly advisable. This is because it focuses on the psychological roots of thoughts and emotional suffering. It insists on self-examination and mostly self-reflection and also the importance of the relationship between the victim and the therapist. Its main objective is to alleviate the most prevailing signs and symptoms and, most importantly, to live a healthier life. Concerning the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy, this approach is usually effective when the condition is waiting but very minimal if the control condition is care-as-usual. Its effectiveness is still uncertain and it should be blended with the other approaches to boost its efficiency (Reavell et al., 2018). In interpersonal therapy, various studies have proven its efficiency compared to antidepressants that treat depression. This is because it helps the ailing individual communicate better with others and address the issue that has led to their disorder. However, some professional psychiatrists use this approach together with medication to enhance its efficiency.
Major Depressive Disorder disturbs more than 16 million adults in America which is about 7% of the total population of the United States (Maurer et al., 2018). Even if major depressive disorder can commence at any age, the common onset of this disorder onsets at the age of 32.5 years (Maurer et al., 2018). However, it is more dominant in women than in men and that is why it should be treated after two weeks of being diagnosed. According to Gerber & Kokko (2018), depression usually occurs if an individual is not capable of making a difference or escaping a negative situation. As a result, they tend to become passive in their daily lives since their capability to make sound decisions and choices is troubled. Major depressive disorder is compared to a common cold since it is frequently diagnosed every year (McGuinness et al., 2022). A behavioral perspective would be used to treat the disorder since it helps victims with major depression to cope with their level of negativity. The patients are also able to increase and maintain their level of positivity through the reconstruction of their personal goals.
In conclusion, major depressive disorder occurs, causing loss of production, high rates of suicidal attempts, functional impairments, and most suffering. It is considered one of the common conditions that occur in primary care but often goes unnoticed, undiagnosed and at times untreated. Most victims who suffer from this disorder do not acknowledge and accept that they are depressed, but a close relative can notice the unexplained symptoms. Nevertheless, there are effective and efficient treatment procedures are all available when the disorder occurs alone and also when it co-occurs together with other medical illnesses.
References
Gao, W., Ping, S., & Liu, X. (2020). Gender differences in depression, anxiety, and stress among college students: a longitudinal study from China. Journal of affective disorders, 263, 292-300.
Gerber, N., & Kokko, H. (2018). Abandoning the ship using sex, dispersal or dormancy: multiple escape routes from challenging conditions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373(1757), 20170424.
Maurer, D. M., Raymond, T. J., & Davis, B. N. (2018). Depression: screening and diagnosis. American family physician, 98(8), 508-515.
McElroy, E., Fearon, P., Belsky, J., Fonagy, P., & Patalay, P. (2018). Networks of depression and anxiety symptoms across development. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 57(12), 964-973.
McGuinness, A. J., Davis, J. A., Dawson, S. L., Loughman, A., Collier, F., OHely, M.,& & Jacka, F. N. (2022). A systematic review of gut microbiota composition in observational studies of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry, 1-16.
Mikhaylov, A. Y., Yumashev, A. V., & Kolpak, E. (2022). Quality of life, anxiety and depressive disorders in patients with extrasystolic arrhythmia. Archives of Medical Science: AMS, 18(2), 328.
Ormel, J., Hollon, S. D., Kessler, R. C., Cuijpers, P., & Monroe, S. M. (2021). More treatment but no less depression: The treatment-prevalence paradox. Clinical psychology review, 102111.
Reavell, J., Hopkinson, M., Clarkesmith, D., & Lane, D. A. (2018). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for depression and anxiety in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine, 80(8), 742-753.
Schuler, M., Strohmayer, M., Mühlig, S., Schwaighofer, B., Wittmann, M., Faller, H., & Schultz, K. (2018). Assessment of depression before and after inpatient rehabilitation in COPD patients: Psychometric properties of the German version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9/PHQ-2). Journal of affective disorders, 232, 268-275.
Sexton, J. B., & Adair, K. C. (2019). Forty-five good things: a prospective pilot study of the Three Good Things well-being intervention in the USA for healthcare worker emotional exhaustion, depression, worklife balance and happiness. BMJ open, 9(3), e022695.
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