Depression On The Brain: What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages?
People with depression frequently seek psychological help from friends and relatives, and government campaigns regularly encourage such support seeking behaviour. But there’s been very little systematically gathered empirical data in terms of the effects of this informal psychological help-seeking on health and mental health. Few studies have compared people with depression with people without depression, and they generally conclude that depression is not associated with an increased suicidal tendency or any other psychiatric outcome. In addition to this, many studies find a negative association between depression and risque moods, social isolation and risky sexual behaviour. But what about the relationship between depression and health, and how do we know that it is not just a coincidence?
Studies that directly address the effects of depression on health and overcome it can’t show a significant positive impact of depression on overall life satisfaction or psychological well-being. But there are many clear advantages and disadvantages of seeking support from friends and relatives. The benefits are obvious – better relationships and social support. And the penalties are more subtle.
exaggeration of symptoms and decline in perceived importance
A common finding is that depressed participants are more likely to give false information when completing surveys (e.g., exaggeration of symptoms and decline in perceived importance). This makes them less reliable for scientific research. It is plausible that people with depression give more truthful answers when under pressure. And those who are experiencing more severe emotional problems are more prone to exaggerate their symptoms. These factors contribute to the weaker evidence base concerning whether or not friends and relatives offer more significant benefits than disadvantages.
Furthermore, there is little difference between respondents with depression and non-depressed peers regarding the types of assistance sought. There was no difference between how many people sought help and how many people received service. Also, most people with depression had at least one family member who has to seek professional help. Those with no family member or other significant outside assistance were not significantly more or less likely to seek help than those with support from friends or family. Participants with few friends or no friends at all were significantly more likely to be continuously depressed.
Who saw family therapy as particularly important for participants with mild to moderate depression. Participants with this degree of depression were significantly more likely to be married or cohabitating (i.e., living with someone else). Also, participants who had friends or relatives sought help but did not receive it at a later point in time were more likely to continue to be depressed even after receiving treatment. This pattern holds for participants with mild to severe depression, as well. Participants with this level of depressive illness were significantly less likely to have a significant incident. Those who remained chronically depressed throughout the treatment program were significantly less likely to be hospitalized or prescribed drugs.
Who also saw those with a history of abuse or violence in their families to have greater chances of being depressed, even if they had not been abused or suffering from depression. Family history does not necessarily mean that there is a genetic component to depression; however, participants with parents or grandparents who have experienced or are currently experiencing depression may have more significant challenges than other participants when seeking support. Participants with parents or grandparents who have experienced or are experiencing childhood abuse or violence may be at greater risk for depression or other mood disorders. This risk tends to be persistent over time. The effects of depression on health and how to overcome it are also seen to be compounded over time.
to be hospitalized or prescribed drugs
Participants without any family member or friend to seek support were significantly less likely to be depressed or be hospitalized or prescribed drugs. This pattern holds for respondents with little or no friends or relatives to talk to, as well. Again, this pattern has even for participants with no history of depression. There was no significant distinction in the rates of hospitalized or prescribed drugs between those with a supportive network, and those without such a network. Social isolation may lead to more hospital admissions and unnecessary medication. Still, it is also important to note that depression did not seem to be any more common in those with friends or relatives to speak to than those without friends or relatives.
The results presented here do not suggest that those without friends or relatives to speak to may be at increased risk for depression, other mood disorders, or even suicide. It indicates that those who did seek help were less likely to experience depression or severe health problems. Also, it is essential to note that those who did seek help were seen to be at a slight disadvantage when it comes to age. Those who did not seek help were younger, on average. They were also more likely to be members of the shallow socioeconomic group. This may lead to a lower quality of health care and higher costs overall, but specialists who sought help were less likely to be seen by specialists and require surgery or expensive medication.