Addiction Treatment Blog

There are seven major physical treatments for depression at present.

• Tricyclic Antidepressants (Table 1). These have until recently been by far the most widely used.
• The Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) (Table 2).
• Reversible Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase (RIMAs) (Table 3).
• 5-HT Reuptake Inhibitors (Table 4).
• Other Antidepressants (Table 5).
• Treatments for Bipolar Disorders or Prophylaxis of Recurrent Disorders (Table 6).
• Others (Table 7)

In the last category, a number of other treatments are marketed for or used for depression and they often work, but whether they are antidepressants in the same sense as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), imipramine or phenelzine is a matter of dispute. The 5-HT-1a agonist, buspirone, has in addition been marketed as an antidepressant, and a further compound from this group, flesinoxan, looks as though it may also emerge as an antidepressant.

Finally, there is also ECT, the mechanism of action of which, and its use clinically will not be discussed at any length in this article. Its role when antidepressants fail to work and in cases of mania will be considered at a later stage. Read more…

A good diet brings healthier lifestyle and better mental health.

When we are depressed we either eat too much or too little. We eat for comfort, or we have no appetite as we are so miserable.

If you can face up to it, even feeling so wretched, try eating at least some ‘healthy‘ things – go and buy some fresh vegetables, fruit, fish. In general, if you can train yourself to eat well when you feel well it will help carry you through the bad times. Don’t just go for the tinned food, the take-away, the snacks. Go to the market, where you will get better value. Try and get local produce, the stuff the supermarket won’t buy because it isn’t round enough, or flat enough. Go to the market at the end of the day to get reduced prices. ‘Organic’ carries the stamp of health but is expensive, and may not be relevant; after all, it is a stamp of diminished value now – with the ‘organic’ take-away the ‘organic’ bar of chocolate. Tinned foods and pre-packaged foods are a damned sight better than no food, but they usually contain too much salt and sugar, not enough of the vitamins fresh foods would provide and artificial taste enhancers to make you want more.

It is easy to get overweight if you’re depressed and the two then interweave – low self-image leads to eating and eating leads to low self-image.

Try and break the cycle. Sometimes it’s easier to DO something rather than STOP doing something. Go to the gym and start getting fitter and then eat better when you’ve started feeling the benefit. It doesn’t take genius to eat better, prepare wholesome food or cook something halfway healthy, and, once taste buds have readjusted, it tastes much better anyway… what you call a win-win situation. Read more…

MIND is the largest mental health charity. Its mission is to improve life for everyone with experience of mental distress. MIND endeavours to advance in the views of people with mental health problems, challenge discrimination and promote inclusion. It influences policy through campaigning and education.

MIND (National Association of Mental Health)

Contact Details

15-19 Broadway, London E15 4BQ
Information and Helpline 0845 766 0163
Fax: 020 8522 1725

MIND has a hepline, which offers confidential help on a range of mental health issues – 0845 766 0163. There is also a special legal service for the public, lawyers and mental health workers – 020 8519 2122 Mon, Weds and Fri 2-4:30.

E-mail

contact@mind.org.uk

Website

www.mind.org.uk

Local MIND Networks

MIND has a network of over 200 local associations. These local groups offer supported housing, crisis helpline, drop-in centres, counselling, befriending, advocacy, employment and training scehemes. To find out where your local MIND network is, contact the helpline or look on the website. Read more…

Eating Disorder problems take more lives than any other mental health problems in the UK.

There are a few people with completely healthy eating habits. The commonest eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating. Anorexia is a condition where individuals starve themselves. The Eating Disorders Association estimates that about 165,000 people in the UK have eating disorders with one in ten dying from their disorder or its complications and only sixty per cent recovering. Overall, eating disorders cause more deaths than any other psychiatric illness, if we include overeating resulting in obesity.

The modern fashion for ultra-skinny models may have affected the incidence of anorexia, and altered the way in which people perceive themselves. However, eating disorders are complex, with a number of likely causes including feelings of low self-worth; a dominant, over protective and critical mother; a passive or withdrawn father; a tendency to perfectionism; a strong desire for social approval and overvaluing appearance; a need for order and control; an attempt to gain control over a chaotic world. Nonetheless, for each individual at some stage the beliefs and behaviours of anorexia gave them the means to cope with their environment.

Depressed young women are at risk of anorexia and anorexic women do get depressed. Any condition that leads to emotional exhaustion will lead sooner or later to depression.

Anorexia has both physical and psychological effects. Physically, lack of calories, vitamins and nutrition causes an emaciated appearance, with muscles wasting, prominent bones with fine downy hairs on the face and arms, cessation of menstruation and thin bones as a result of the loss of oestrogen. There are also heart and bowel problems. Read more…