Cadabam's Blog

Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine, and doxepin, may harm your heart, according to a new study conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL). This risk may extend beyond individuals who are being treated for depression, as these older antidepressants are also used to treat anxiety, sleep problems, headache, and back pain, among other conditions.
Although tricyclic antidepressants are one of the oldest classes of antidepressants, they are still used extensively, according to eMedExpert. Today, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have replaced tricyclics as the treatment of choice for depressive disorders, primarily because patients tolerate them better and they are safer if taken in excess.
Researchers at University College London compared the use of tricyclic antidepressants with SSRIs or no antidepressant use in nearly 15,000 individuals in Scotland. Overall, the older antidepressants were linked with a 35 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease, while use of SSRIs was not.
Based on these findings, Dr. Mark Hamer, senior research fellow in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCL remarked that they “suggest that there is an association between the use of tricyclic antidepressants and an increased risk of CVD that is not explained by existing mental illness.” The study results thus indicate that tricyclics have properties that are responsible for the greater risk.
Previous research has shown tricyclic use to be associated with a significantly higher rate of serious cardiovascular side effects, such as increased heart rate, as well as arrhythmias, blood pressure abnormalities, and congestive heart failure. They have also been linked with weight gain and diabetes, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
The UCL study’s authors note that other factors may be involved in the possible link between tricyclic antidepressant use and cardiovascular disease. Hamer pointed out that individuals who take antidepressants are more likely to be overweight, smoke, and not get sufficient exercise, also risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Before it can be determined with more certainty that tricyclic antidepressants can harm the heart, “there needs to be more research looking closely at the effects of these drugs on your heart,” notes Amy Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation. Because antidepressants help a great many people, “it would be unwise for anyone taking them to stop based on the results of this study alone.”

Depression is a very real and serious problem for both children and teens.
Research has shown that childhood depression often persists, recurs and continues into adulthood, especially if it goes untreated. The presence of childhood depression also tends to be a predictor of more severe illnesses in adulthood.
A child with depression may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that a parent may die. Older children may sulk, get into trouble at school, be negative and irritable, and feel misunderstood. Because these signs may be viewed as normal mood swings typical of children as they move through developmental stages, it may be difficult to accurately diagnose a young person with depression.
Before puberty, boys and girls are equally likely to develop depressive disorders. By age 15, however, girls are twice as likely as boys to have experienced a major depressive episode.
Depression in adolescence comes at a time of great personal change–when boys and girls are forming an identity distinct from their parents, grappling with gender issues and emerging sexuality, and making decisions for the first time in their lives. Depression in adolescence frequently co–occurs with other disorders such as anxiety, disruptive behavior, eating disorders or substance abuse. It can also lead to increased risk for suicide.
One research study of 439 adolescents with major depression found that a combination of medication and psychotherapy was the most effective treatment option. Researchers are developing and testing ways to prevent suicide in children and adolescents, including early diagnosis and treatment, and a better understanding of suicidal thinking.

Clinical depression goes by many names — depression, “the blues,” biological depression, major depression. But it all refers to the same thing: feeling sad and depressed for weeks or months on end (not just a passing blue mood), accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy, and taking little or no pleasure in things that gave you joy in the past.

A person who’s depressed just “can’t get moving” and feels completely unmotivated to do just about anything. Even simple things — like getting dressed in the morning or eating — become large obstacles.

We’ve compiled a library of depression resources for you to explore. We encourage you to take your time with these resources, print out things you’d like to read more carefully, and bring anything you have additional questions about to your family doctor or a mental health professional.

Depression is readily treated nowdays with modern antidepressant medications and short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy. Don’t be put off by the amount of things written about depression — because it’s so common, a lot has been written about it! Read what you need, and leave the rest for another day.

Bipolar mood (affective) disorder, also known as manic depressive psychosis earlier, is a type of mood disorder characterized by mood swings. It is episodic in nature having episodes of mania/hypomania and depression.
Normally is starts in early twenties although can occur in any age. Both males and females are affected equally. It occurs in all cultures. It is not recognized as an illness many times and people suffer without treatment. It should be differentiated from normal mood swings what people go through without affecting their life.
Depression: symptoms include
• Depressed or low mood
• Loss of interest and enjoyment in life
• Lack of drive and motivation to do normal activities
• Fatigue and weakness
• Agitation and restlessness
• Loss of appetite and loss of weight
• Inability to sleep
• Loss of outward affection, interest in sex
• Loss of self confidence, avoiding people
• Feeling useless, inadequate, helpless and hopeless
• Guilty feeling, worthlessness
• Feeling worse usually in the mornings
• Suicidal thoughts may occur too.
Mania and Hypomania: clinical features may be
• Elated mood, inflated self-esteem
• Increased activity and energy
• Inability to sleep
• Rapid speech, flow of ideas and thoughts
• Irritability, impatience
• Over talkativeness, over familiarity
• Reckless behavior, loss of judgment and impulsivity

Grandiose delusions- belief that the person is special
The episode may last 1 to 3 months, sometimes longer
With experience it is possible to recognize early warning signs in some people and take appropriate action. However when symptoms become severe, awareness is lost.