Understanding Depression

Understanding Depression and Depression Management

Research data shows that episodes of depression are beginning at earlier and earlier ages and that childhood depression, once virtually unknown – or at least unrecognised is emerging as a future of the modern scene. It is becoming obvious that depression should not just be treated, but prevented in children is clear from the alarming discovery that even mild forms of depression in a child can lead to more severe episodes in later life. This significantly challenges old assumptions that depression in childhood ‘does not matter in the long run, since they grow out of it’.

As with adults, pessimistic ways of interpreting life’s problems seem to fuel the sense of hopelessness and helplessness at the heart of children’s depression. That people who are already depressed think in such a manner has long been known. What has only emerged in the last few decades is that children who are most prone to melancholy tend towards this pessimistic outlook before they become depressed. This insight suggests a window of opportunity for inoculating them against depression before it strikes.

This course, it is hoped, will not just sever as a guideline to the management of depression. It is formulated and facilitated in the sincere hope that students who are interested in this field will take the knowledge that is made available to them and put it to good use in developing the awareness of others.

Course Content

• Introduction to depression in children and adults
• What is depression? Symptoms and classification
• The main causes of depression: psychological, and physiological
• Women & depression
• The treatment of depression
• Management: drugs and coping skills

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course the candidate will be able to:

• Describe somatisationsymptoms and explain the aspects that it involves.
• Evaluate the common physical symptoms of depression and include the psychological symptoms. Be able to identify a person who is psychiatrically ill and needs help from a doctor or psychiatrist.
• Define neuroses; the role anxiety plays in this process and recognise the most common symptoms associated with it.
• Be able to recognise neurotic depression and show the situations that most often create depression.
• Explain the difference between Unipolar Depression and Bipolar Depressive Psychosis.
• Describe how psychoanalytic and other theories interpret depression.
• Discuss the most common causes, symptoms and consequences of PMT.
• Analyse pre-menstrual depression and summarise its characteristics.
• Describe the following forms of therapy:
  Supportive
  Re-educative – including cognitive behaviour therapy
  Reconstructive -including psychoanalysis
• Identify the following drug treatments:
  Tricyclic antidepressants, SSRI’s, Monoamine, Lithium, Tranquillisers
• Identify the signs of depression and indicate the first step that should be taken by sufferers or family members.
• Discuss the two elements required of any professional involved in the treatment of depressed individuals and the rules therapists should follows when detecting and treating mood disorders.

Course Investment £95

20-30 hours of study time.