A new study has raised the question whether or not too many people are being diagnosed as having depression.
While Professor Gordon Parker, a psychiatrist from Australia says that the threshold for 'clinical depression' is too low, Professor Ian Hickie says otherwise.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.
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Prof Parker carried out a study, following 242 teachers. 15 years into the study, he noted that 79 percent of the people had met the symptom and duration criteria for major, minor or sub-syndromal depression.
This caused him to concluded that it is normal to be depressed, reports the BMJ.
He also warned that over-diagnosis of clinical depression could lead to a diagnosis of it becoming less credible.
![Depression Therapy Reduces Suicide Attempts]( "Depression Therapy Reduces Suicide Attempts")
Suicide attempts declined during the first month of treatment in a study of more than 100,000 patients treated for depression.
However, Prof Hickie states that if increased diagnosis and treatment has actually led to demonstrable benefits and is cost effective, then it is not yet being over diagnosed.
He insists that diagnosis and treatment has led to a reduction in suicides and increased productivity. He also adds that due to this, there has been a reduction in the stigma attached to being depressed.
Source: ANI
LIN/B
He also warned that over-diagnosis of clinical depression could lead to a diagnosis of it becoming less credible.
Depression Therapy Reduces Suicide Attempts
Suicide attempts declined during the first month of treatment in a study of more than 100,000 patients treated for depression.
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However, Prof Hickie states that if increased diagnosis and treatment has actually led to demonstrable benefits and is cost effective, then it is not yet being over diagnosed.
He insists that diagnosis and treatment has led to a reduction in suicides and increased productivity. He also adds that due to this, there has been a reduction in the stigma attached to being depressed.
Source: ANI
LIN/B
Brains of Clinically Depressed Persons React Differently Than of Normal People
University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that brains of people with clinical depression react very differently than those of healthy people when trying to cope with negative situations.
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