Treatment brings smile back in life

No one is happy in all occasion, but some people feel as if they can never be contented. They lead awful life with a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite and poor concentration. These people suffers from depression that significantly destroys their quality of life â€" the ability to work, maintaining relationships and at worst, can lead to suicide.
According to the World Federation for Mental Health, depression is estimated to affect 350 million people worldwide and one of the leading causes of disability. However, it is often under-recognised and under-treated in developing countries like Bangladesh.
Depression can affect anyone and often co-exist with other serious illnesses. However, common feeling of sadness due to any situational factor for a transient period is not depression.
Many people in Bangladesh are hardly aware of psychological expression of depression like low mood, lack of drive and hopelessness. Hence, they rarely seek treatment for depression.
There are some biological symptoms associated with depression: like change in appetite as a result weight gain or weight loss, constipation, loss of interest in sexual interact, paused menstrual cycle for certain period of time (in female), sexual dysfunction (in male) may occur.
These symptoms need to be addressed. Prolong uses of steroids, many anti hypertensive drugs, anti cancer drugs and drugs used for the treatment of arthritis causes depression as their side effects.
The stigma of mental illness is perhaps the biggest challenge to confront in developing countries. Stigma and ignorance causes many people to delay seeking care and treatment.
Proper management of depression will help anyone to get back to normal life but undiagnosed depression worsens health status. It is a risk factor for suicide and often worsens the outcome of other health problems like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease or any other medical condition.
Drugs that induce depression as a side effect should be used cautiously and patients who are on these drugs need periodic psychiatric assessment to exclude depression. Seeking assistance with depression is most crucial and obviously there is no shame seeking help.
There is cost-effective treatment available to improve the health of millions suffering from depression and it can be delivered at primary care setting. Treatment consisting of drugs and psychotherapy helps to increase one’s coping ability, rational thinking thus reduces vulnerability to develop further depressive episode.
Many renowned personalities and leaders suffer from depression but they are maintaining quality life dedicating themselves for entertainment and greater benefit of humanity. We need to raise awareness and educate people about depression at all level and help them get treated and bring their smile back.

The writer is a Medical Officer working in the Dept. of Psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). E-mail: [email protected]