Blog Entries - November 2008

First International Hearing Voices Congress

editor@uticopa.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

It is time that society at large recognises that hearing voices in the head is a human variation rather than a symptom of illness. As a step in the right direction, mental health professionals are urged to attend the first international congress of its kind, specifically organised to develop awareness of this variation.

The First International Hearing Voices Congress is to be held in Maastricht in Holland from 17 - 18th September 2009. It is planned that it should be both inc [...]

Living with Depression: Michael’s story

editor@uticopa.com — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:26:16 +0100

At the age of thirty-five I was working at a residential home in Liverpool. Although I had worked there for several years, I had begun to feel that my life was like ground hog day. Every day seemed the same: no change, same old routine. My life was just so boring. I knew, deep down, that something was missing from my life but I didn’t know exactly what it was. Problems started to get worse.

Eventually I gave up my job and tried a different career in the hope that things mi [...]

I'm feeling low: can therapy help instead of drugs?

editor@uticopa.com — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Rising unemployment, negative-equity, house repossessions...is it any wonder many of us are feeling depressed and unable to cope? According to Mind, the mental health charity, as many as one person in five can expect to suffer from a mental health problem during their lives. With today's global financial meltdown, this figure can be expected to rise still further. So, what can be done?

First, you need to assess whether you are merely down in the dumps or actually sufferi [...]

Talk therapy - how to get things off your chest

editor@uticopa.com — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

When you walk through a storm,
Hold your head up high,
And don't be afraid of the dark,
At the end of the storm is a golden sky.
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown,
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone.
You'll never walk alone
& [...]

Is there a link between depression and diabetes?

editor@uticopa.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:10:01 +0100

Mind-body connections: Is there a link between depression and diabetes?

Studies have shown that there may be a definite link between depression and diabetes.

It was found that people suffering from both diabetes and depression were more likely to be older, female and from ethnic minorities. Also included in the risk group were those who didn't exercise, were overweight or obese, and those who had a history of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Additionally at risk [...]

Insomnia can actually cause depression

editor@uticopa.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:00:21 +0100

For many years insomnia was viewed as a symptom of depression, but this is no longer the case. Insomnia is now known to be a major risk factor for depression – a complete about-turn to our understanding.

What is insomnia?

Insomnia refers to sleep difficulties and this can take many different forms such as:

• Waking up too early

• Waking up frequently during the night

• Trouble falling asleep each night

The elderly and depression: seeking help

editor@uticopa.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:48:03 +0100

Diagnosing depression in the elderly

Before being diagnosed with depression, elderly adults should be screened for common health issues that can affect mood. These include:

• Hormonal imbalances

• Thyroid problems

• Vitamin B12 deficiency

• Other nutritional deficiencies

• Electrolyte imbalances or dehydration

Getting professional help for depression

While s [...]

Do women inherit the depression gene more than men?

editor@uticopa.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:36:17 +0100

A new study has found that genetics not only has a major role in depression, but it actually plays a bigger role in depression for women than it does for men. Researchers often study identical twins raised apart because this is the best way to find out whether a disorder is caused primarily by genes or environmental factors. Some recent studies, when analysed together, found that genetic factors accounted for 42% of depression in women, against only 29% for men.

Certainly, most of us [...]

Living with depression: the famous and non-famous

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:20:04 +0100

Famous personalities who have struggled against depression include Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, Jim Carrey, Leo Tolstoy, Harrison Ford and Boris Yeltsin.

All exhibited similar traits. They were intelligent, articulate individuals, raised in ‘normal’ families and benefiting from the love and support of those around them. None were reclusive hermits, many held firm religious convictions, yet they all still suffered from the seriousness of clinical depression.

Young, gifted and depressed

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:13:50 +0100

In today’s competitive society there has been an increasing incidence of what is termed Existential Depression in school-children – something which can lead to thoughts of suicide.

Existential Depression is particularly common among gifted children. The most common reasons given for such children wanting to end their lives were: feelings of personal worthlessness, feelings of isolation and loneliness, pressure to achieve, and fear of failure. The most common time for teens [...]

Depression, drugs and suicide

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:26:37 +0100

A drug to stop smoking linked to depression and suicide

Champix, a wonder drug prescribed to nearly 400,000 people in the UK to help them give up nicotine has been linked to severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Launched two years ago, scientists and researchers claimed Champix (known clinically as Varenicline) was more effective than alternative therapies in helping people give up smoking. Across the world, nine million people are said to use the drug which mimics the effects of n [...]

Physical illness and depression

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:14:10 +0100

Diagnosis of depression in physical illness

There is no doubt that clinical depression is a painful and debilitating condition that often occurs in association with severe physical illness, but how to diagnose it in these circumstances?

The biological symptoms of depression include anorexia, weight loss, sleep disturbance, lethargy and psychomotor retardation; however, all of these may equally be due to the physical illness. A useful guide is the three main symptoms that help [...]