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Compared to men, women are more likely to suffer from depression due to their different hormonal fluctuations.

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While it is commonly believed that people tend to turn to alcohol to drown out their sorrows alcohol can actually be one of the primary contributing factors to clinical depression.

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Our focus problem is Depression. We chose this problem because we want to spread awareness about it, especially to young adults, such as students who are more likely to suffer from it. We want to be able to find better ways to treat depression that does not involve medication dependency, since it is shown that it causes many side effects.

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People between the ages at 18 and 25 are at higher risk of depression than any other age range.

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A family history of depression can increase your risk of receiving it.

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People with Major Depressive Disorder have a difficulty regulating emotions. Depending on the severity, they can experience an increase in amygdala activation during emotion regulation.

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The physiological factors that are affected by depression are appetite changes, limb, back, and joint pain. The heart, kidney, nervous system, and immune system are all affected by depression.

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This article details that people suffering from depression have been reported to have decreased volumes in both the Amygdala and Hippocampal regions of the brain. It has been found that those who seek treatment can restore these symptoms back to normal although in some cases even after treatment the volumes of these regions stays the same. In patients who do not see changes after treatment physiologically but are no longer experiencing symptoms have been found to be more prone to relapse.

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To be diagnosed with depression, an individual must have five depression symptoms every day, nearly all day, for at least 2 weeks.

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Having a loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities is a symptom of depression. This means you struggle doing day-to-day activities or even certain hobbies.

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A physician may ask when your symptoms began, how long they last, how often they occur, and if they keep the person from going out or doing usual daily activities.

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Difficulties sleeping or upset stomach can be signs of anxiety with a typical lingering of feeling overwhelmed. While anxiety can be a symptom of depression it can also trigger depression. While feeling Shakey, fast heart rate, chest pain, and rapid breathing.

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Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a common treatment for depression. CBT involves helping the patient improve their coping skills, and monitor and manage to change negative patterns.

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This type of treatment is common when other forms of treatment have not worked or cannot work, such as psychological therapy, depending on the severity of the patients depression. They take at least two weeks before they make the patient feel better, but have various side effects, such as nausea, headaches, anxiety, weight gain, etc.

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Reduced appetite or high food cravings can be a symptom of depression. Those who take anti-depressants or on treatments can find an effect on their weight. With a chance of feeling an increase of food craving or lack of appetite. As this can affect activity, self-concept, motivation, and energy.

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People with depression can have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or have periods of excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep problems associated with depression can include insomnia, hypersomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea.

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There are two types of diabetes, those being Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is when your pancreas cannot produce enough insulin and Type 2 is when your cells don't respond normally to insulin. What diabetes does is that it causes your body to not be able to produce enough insulin or be able to use it as well as it should.

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Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, has been linked to patients with long term depression in multiple randomized studies.

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Self-Harm is an intentional behavior to ones self. Most regarded to one's attempt of injuries or worse. While depression overwhelms emotions, Self harm is a direct issue some people use to releasing endorphins and emotion bottled up from depression.

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Using substances like drugs and alcohol can numb certain feelings of despair. People who have depression can be more vulnerable to abusing such substances. This can lead to addiction and can cause harm to the body.

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Behavior therapy helps patients engage in more positive interactions with their surroundings. This therapy can help patients regain their meaningfulness and feeling of accomplishment after completing certain tasks. The long-term effects of behavior therapy can reduce or remiss certain depressive symptoms such as accepting events that are beyond one's control. Phycologists, mental health social workers, and therapists are certified to deliver behavior therapy treatments.

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Targets problems and sets connections to the focus problem through feelings, thoughts, and emotions to increase pleasure in changed patterns. Focused on the way we view the world and ourselves with the world around us. With the goal to unwind unhelpful thinking that could impair one's function.

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Medication helps the patient get in control and be able to not as badly as they usually do. The medications depend on what the body accepts or rejects and whether the right dosage is being used. The long-term effects of taking medication are sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and sleep disturbance. A Psychiatrist will be the medical professional that would have to prescribe the treatment(s).

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A trained and certified physical therapist treat depression by helping to cure one of the largest causes of depression, chronic pain.

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A certified and trained Physical Therapist is able to practice Manual Therapy. Manual Therapy can reduce chronic pain. Reducing pain can help improve the stress and mood of a patient with Depression.

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Occupational therapists can help someone that suffers from depression by helping them develop good coping strategies and build up their self-esteem. Some good coping strategies can involve activities or listening to music and mostly have a long-term effect.

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Allowing structure for those days can allow those with depression to look forward towards something to do. While depression disrupts the want to preform/participate in activities. While occupational therapy can reveal a steady home activity and schedule to stay on top of association with daily activities.

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One long-term treatment that is used for depression is psychotherapy. The expected cost of psychotherapy is anywhere between $65 - $250 per hour and people with insurance usually have some coverage for this. It would be unusual for this treatment not to be covered, although it’s still possible. Some of the long-term effects of not being able to obtain this treatment would be persisting or worsening symptoms or even suicide.

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A long-term treatment plan for patients with depression can be medication, or antidepressants. The option for antidepressants is wide and varies, depending on which medication your body agrees with and which one works. The cost of antidepressants vary depending on the brand. If you have insurance, it is possible that it covers that medication, but it depends on the providers. The cost of all antidepressants vary from $75 to $730. a risk that can happen if the patient does not seek the medication because of cost may be that their health may decline and their symptoms may get worse, and possibly be harder to get back on track.

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A long-term treatment that may be necessary for someone with Depression is Cognitive-behavioral Therapy. The expected cost for Cognitive-behavioral Therapy is $100 or more per hour. However, some therapy clinics may offer a sliding scale which means the price fluctuates based on income. On a scale of 1-5, the likelihood of this treatment being fully covered is a 4. Most insurances cover mental and behavioral health because of the Federal Parity Law. This law requires insurance companies to treat mental and behavioral health. However, a long-term consequence if a person chooses not to seek treatment due to the cost is not having the opportunity to treat or improve their negative metal side effects from Depression.

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When treating symptoms of depression, exercise is shown to be effective in elevating mood, reducing anxiety, and overall helping ease the symptoms of depression. The difficulty of making this lifestyle change is 6/10 because although the initial change is hard, most people enjoy the positive effect that come with long term exercise.

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Going on a walk or being surrounded by nature can increase moods. Helping the mind refresh and decreasing prolonged negative thoughts. While environment can be a big key factor to benefit overall emotion. Suppressing the desire to sitting in a dark moody environment. Breaking the barrier of lost opportunities and gaining the feeling of purpose.

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Boosting your sleep can help with depression since about 75% of people that have depression have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night. Some ways that a person can improve their sleep might be turning off all electronics, dimming the lights, making a sleep schedule, and making your room comfortable. I think the difficulty of this change is about a 5. A therapist might help someone with this change.

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A lifestyle change that may be necessary for someone with Depression is having a healthy diet. A healthy diet can help symptoms of Depression because food is an important key to maintaining a healthy life. Eating the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, and proteins can help keep your body healthy. For example, the amino acids in proteins are used by your brain to regulate your mood. On a scale of 1-10 the difficulty of changing a lifestyle to a heathier one would be a 6. The choice of changing diet is different for everyone and it can be based on the motivation level of the person. It also can be based on the ability to purchase food with proper nutrients. A Nutritionist is a good professional to talk to when wanting to understand more about improving your diet and what the benefits can be.

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Elderly people are more likely to be affected by depression because they are more likely to live on their own, sometimes having no friends or family to talk to. Elderly people may have a harder time accessing treatment due to them not being aware of their condition, or not having a stream of income to pay for treatment even if they are aware of it. 

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Teenage girls are one of the highest Special Populations dealing with depression. Becoming a factor of having changes in bodies, self-identity, emotions, and behavioral patterns. Increasing a spiral of lack of motivation to frequent thoughts and feeling worthless.

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Some women, after they give birth experience postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is when a woman experiences strong emotions, such as anxiety, sadness, and anger after giving birth, lasting a long period of time. They are more likely to experience this because of hormonal imbalances and the effects during birth. The challenges they may face because of this and getting treatment may be not sufficient resources or not wanting to receive help.

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A special population that can be affected by Depression is pregnant women. Pregnant women are at risk of a perinatal mood disorder. This Depression causes the women to experience extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult to carry out daily tasks. A challenge that this population may face is if the symptoms are severe, the mother and her baby’s health/well-being may be at risk.

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A preventive measure that can help reduce the risk from effects of depression is positive affirmations. Depression can affect a person’s view of things. To shift your view, you can make it a goal to notice at least three good things every day. The more you notice what is good the more you will realize what is good. However, a challenge that can come across is having the mental strength to point out the good because depression can also take place from a chemical imbalance in the brain.

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One of the most critical period in the prevention of depression is childhood. Childhood factor during a person's upbringing such as parental bereavement, divorce, or having a serious medical illness may increase the likelihood of a child developing the symptoms of depression.

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A preventative measure for depression is getting enough sleep. This measure of prevention can help a person that may have depression to be able to control it or lower symptoms. Sleep affects your day to day activities and your mental health. The problems some may encounter is the difficulty of following a sleep schedule and not being tired even if they had enough sleep.

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Environmental can be a leading cause of depression. Having strong relationships, bonds, support, and bright/welcoming environments can rise positive moods and upbringing in people's moods.

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One form of technology that may help with treating depression is the use of mental health apps. Advantages of mobile care technology is convenience, 24-hour service, consistency, anonymity, and lower cost. However, with mobile technology there are also certain limitations. These limitations could be effectiveness, regulation, guidance, and overselling.

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TMS is a noninvasive technological procedure that involves applying a series of short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in surface areas of the brain. The is a type of treatment that stimulates specific areas of the brain to provide relief and break the cycle of depression. Although this could be very useful for treatment the high cost of this technology could be an issue.

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A technological or safety device that may help treat depression are FitBits and Apple Watches. Both of these can help the person because once they have a smart watch, it is most common that they start exercising and getting a routine in, which is very important for someone with depression. A possible negative aspect of the use of these watches might be being too dependable on them, such as if the battery stops working, it won't stop you from exercising or staying healthy.

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Implementing mandates that require businesses to screen regularly for depression. Evidence has linked workplace environments to depression and other mental health problems and holding regular screenings that evaluate the mental health of employees in the workplace is something that could help combat this issue.

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Activities are a very helpful public health intervention because they can help calm the mind and relax your body. There can a few types of activities, such as physical activity and meaningful activities that can improve mental health. A physical activity could be playing a sport or working out and a meaning activity could be drawing or painting; something that calms their mind. These can be available in schools, such as clubs or organizations to the school you go to or public organizations open to the community.

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Having access to talk to someone regarding your emotions and situations can benefit overall mentally. A primary care or program now for all areas and aspects of a persons life. Counseling can be a form of supportive, consulting, guiding, redirecting and leading. A way to improve a patients out come with follow-up interventions with a specialist to improve outcome.

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An intervention that can help reduce the risk of depression is spreading awareness in schools. Spreading awareness of depression in schools allows for children and young adults to learn about healthy life habits and the resources provided by the school that they can use if experiencing symptoms of depression. An example of spreading awareness can be holding a school assembly or providing mental health promotional opportunities in schools. A possible challenge with this method may be getting the students to be involved with the information and understanding how important the information is.