Major Depressive Disorder Free Essay Example, 2750 words

Mary is a 53-year-old housewife that was referred for psychological evaluation by her general practitioner. Her main complaints were sleeping pattern disruption, loss of appetite and weight and constant tiredness. Her symptoms began after the loss of her husband who died recently from cancer. Her personal history revealed difficult childhood due to family relationships, resulting in the decision of marriage in late adolescence. Her medical examinations revealed no significant pathology that could explain the current symptoms. She had no personal or family history of mental illness. She was assessed for depression with the use of QIDS-C16 questionnaire and the DSM-IV criteria and was found to suffer from moderate depression. Appropriate treatment with anti-depressants and psychotherapy meetings was initiated. A discussion of her current living situation and conditions that can affect her course and recovery is provided. Major Depressive Disorder is a multi-factorial entity, with grea t impact on personal, family and social life. It can be a debilitating disease that deprives the individual of the energy and even the desire to continue living. Many socioeconomic parameters influence the occurrence and also the prognosis of the patients: age at first presentation, gender, marital status, quality of marriage and family relationships, social support, socioeconomic status, personality traits and disorders, life events and bereavement. We will write a custom essay sample on Major Depressive Disorder or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page