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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on November 7, 2000, at 16:55:11
I hope no one is annoyed that I have posted this information twice.
Just in case the subject line of my previous post didn't attract attention, I just wanted to make sure that people took a look at the material the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published regarding their current conceptualizations of Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder. I think it is important for everyone to read.
Brain disorders.
Depression:http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depresfact.cfm
Bipolar Disorder:http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolarresfact.cfm
- Scott
Posted by dj on November 7, 2000, at 17:22:19
In reply to Depression and Bipolar Disorder - NIH Conclusions, posted by SLS on November 7, 2000, at 16:55:11
>I think it is important for everyone to read.
Scott,
Of this all what do you find particularly new, or noteworthy?
Posted by JohnB on November 7, 2000, at 21:03:47
In reply to Depression and Bipolar Disorder - NIH Conclusions, posted by SLS on November 7, 2000, at 16:55:11
Scott, thanks for that.
I found this quote interesting:
"a recent study sponsored by the World Health Organization and the World Bank found unipolar major depression to be the leading cause of disability in the United States and worldwide. "
You'd never guess this from media coverage. You'd think it was alzheimers, heart disease, or aids. As always, depression gets swept under the rug.
As I write this, the presidential election coverage is going on. I hope Gore wins because I think he is sensitive to mental health concerns due to his wife's brush with depression.
Posted by SLS on November 8, 2000, at 7:06:19
In reply to Re: Depression and Bipolar Disorder - NIH Conclusions, posted by dj on November 7, 2000, at 17:22:19
Hi dj.
> >I think it is important for everyone to read.
>
> Scott,
>
> Of this all what do you find particularly new, or noteworthy?
I feel it is noteworthy for at least three reasons?1. Both of these affective disorders have been officially designated as "brain disorders" by a government agency, the National Institutes of Health.
2. This proclaimation will make it much easier to effect changes in public policy and legislation. It also provides the basis upon which a case can be made to force insurance companies and Medicare to cease their segregation of these mental illnesses. Right now, most insurance companies set lower limits and pay claims at a reduced rate from all other illnesses.
3. I find both documents to be good summaries of the many facets of affective disorders. They serve to reinforce the physiological nature of thier illnesses and provide a balanced perspective as to the contributions of psychosocial stresses.
- Scott
Posted by dj on November 8, 2000, at 13:45:02
In reply to Re: Depression and Bipolar Disorder - NIH Conclusions, posted by SLS on November 8, 2000, at 7:06:19
FAST FACTS
From the NIH:
* Approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the US
population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder.
* Nearly twice as many women (12. percent) as men (6.6 percent) are affected by
depression each year. These figures translate to 12.4 million women and 6.4 million men
in the US.
* Depressive disorders may be appearing earlier in life in people born in recent
decades compared to the past.
* Depression often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.
* Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the US and
established market economies worldwide.
* Major depressive disorder affects approximately 9.9 million American adults, or
about 5.0 percent of the US. population age 18 and older in a given year.
* Dysthymia (chronic mild depression) affects approximately 5.4 percent of the US
population age 18 and older during their lifetime. This figure translates to about
10.9 million American adults.
* About 40 percent of adults with dysthymic disorder also meet criteria for major
depressive disorder or bipolar disorder in a given year.
* Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.3 million American adults, or about 1.2
percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year.
* Men and women are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder.For more details, please see:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm
< a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm" >click here< /a >
SUITE101.COMYou can check out my more than 80 articles covering depression, bipolar, and mental
health, plus back issues of this Newsletter, at:http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/depression
< a href="http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/depression" >click here< /a >
Posted by tenuous on November 8, 2000, at 14:31:09
In reply to Re: Depression and Bipolar Disorder - NIH Conclusi, posted by JohnB on November 7, 2000, at 21:03:47
> As I write this, the presidential election coverage is going on. I hope Gore wins because I think he is sensitive to mental health concerns due to his wife's brush with depression.
Actually, I think that because his wife had depression and then got over it, never to have it return, they have a very simplistic view of mental illness. For people with situational depression it is merely a case of acknowledging the source of the depression (death of family member, loss of job, divorce, etc.), dealing with the feelings (chit-chat therapy) perhaps augmented with an AD, and then you're done. When I run into these people they will always insist that if I could just figure out what I'm upset about then I could be "cured" too. It's REALLY frustrating to deal with them. So, I wouldn't get my hopes up counting on Gore.
Posted by JohnB on November 9, 2000, at 3:11:31
In reply to Re: Depression and Bipolar Disorder - NIH Conclusi » JohnB, posted by tenuous on November 8, 2000, at 14:31:09
>So, I wouldn't get my hopes up counting on Gore.
I only meant relatively to the other guy, sometimes known as "dubya" ("W"), who strikes me as an angry little man. I have read that he treats his subordinates like shit.
As regards Gore, I'm pretty sure I remember that either he or Tipper actually said that mental health would be something they would focus attention on. This was many months ago. Also as regards Tipper, I don't think anyone who's had a depressive episode ever forgets it. But I don't know the severity of her depression, only that she did go public about taking an AD for a while. This was probably to forstall it coming out during the election campaign. I agree with you that it was probably a situational thing and not at all severe.
Posted by noa on November 9, 2000, at 6:20:12
In reply to Re: Depression and Gore » tenuous, posted by JohnB on November 9, 2000, at 3:11:31
Nevertheless, in the world of politics, just to acknowledge this and provide a positive image and to bring the issue out more into the public dialogue, is a great thing.
On the other hand, there is W, who seems to be in denial about alcoholism.
Posted by pullmarine on November 10, 2000, at 1:58:41
In reply to Re: Depression and Gore, posted by noa on November 9, 2000, at 6:20:12
There is no other choice. Given the irregularities in florida (where coincidentally, jed bush runs things), the only way to avoid a political and social crisis is for gore to be our next president. Any other outcome will lead to a serious political crisis, as well as serious doubts about the validity of our democratic system, and international embarrassment.
JOHN
This is the end of the thread.
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