Antidepressant Medication

Antidepressant Medication

Antidepressant medications are used to treat many psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsory disorder.

These medications help treat and prevent symptoms from returning. A patient and his or her doctor will choose the best antidepressant medication for the patient.

What are antidepressant medications used for?

These medications are used to treat many symptoms, including feeling sad, low energy, nervousness, repeated and unsetting thoughts and actions, thoughts of suicide.

How long will this medication take to work?

It can take four to six weeks before you start to feel better. Do not change the dose or stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor. Antidepressants take time to work.

How long do I need to take this medication?

The length of time you take an antidepressant will depend on what illness you have. You should talk to your doctor about how long you will need to take this medication.

What are the possible side effects?

Not everyone has side effects. If you do have side effects they usually are not serious. Most of the time side effects will get better with time.

Common side effects include:

• Constipation (difficulty going to the bathroom)
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Feeling less interested in sex or difficulty having sex
• Feeling nervous
• Feeling tired
• Headache
• Trouble sleeping
• Upset stomach

(This not a complete list of side effects. If you are worried about these of other side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist).

Some side effects can be serious such as:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Difficulty breathing
• Skin rash or itching
• Change in mood to unusually happy or excited
• Feeling very nervous, confused or upset
• Thoughts of suicide
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or others.

If you have any of these side effects, you should tell your doctor right away.

Interactions with other medications

Antidepressant medications can change how other medications work. Antidepressants may not work properly when taken with other medications. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking other medications, vitamins or herbal medicines.

Things to consider:

• Do not stop or change the dose of your medication without talking with your doctor
• Tell your doctor about any changes in the way you are feeling or acting
• If you feel sleepy, do not drive a car or do other things where you need to be awake
• Do not drink alcohol while taking an antidepressant.

Do not change the dose or stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor. Antidepressants take time to work. Illustration: Megan Jorgensen.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What is OCD? Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder. People with OCD have repeated, upsetting thoughts or images that may make them do things over and over. The obsessive thoughts or images are called “obsessions”. The actions that are done over and over again to make the thoughts go away are called “compulsions”. These actions give only brief relief from anxiety. Many people with OCD know that their actions are not normal but they cannot stop or control them. OCD can be so severe that it stops people from having a normal life.

What causes OCD?: There is no one reason why someone develops OCD. Family history, brain chemistry and stress play a big role in producing the illness.

OCD occurs in people of all ages but symptoms are usually first seen in teens and young adults.

Signs and symptoms

Examples of obsessions include:

• Keeping things neat or in special order
• Fear of germs
• Fear of being hurt
• Fear of hurting others
• Upsetting thoughts about sex
• Upsetting thoughts about religion

Examples of compulsion include doing one of these things over and over:

• Washing hands
• Cleaning
• Arranging things
• Counting
• Repeating words silently
• Praying
• Checking things (such as whether the stove if off or the door is locked).

What are the treatments?: OCD generally responds well to treatment, such as medication and psychotherapy.

Medication will help reduce anxiety, unwanted thoughts and repeated actions.

A type of psychotherapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) teaches how to deal with anxiety and how to stop doing unwanted things.

Support from family, friends and self-help groups can also be very helpful.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) teaches how to deal with anxiety and how to stop doing unwanted things. Image: © Megan Jorgensen.

Morality in Psychology

Morality

What's a goon to a goblin? - Lil Wayne

Let's face it: Life can be pretty unfair. After all, to be a supermodel you must have inherited an above average height, a particular bone structure, a low appetite, natural beauty and so much more. And you have to start young. Does that mean we should ban all supermodels? While the Dove self-esteem campaign celebrates all shapes and sizes of attractiveness, and minimum BMIs have been introduced at many fashion shows, the female tall, thin ideal continues to push many young women and girls towards eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Along these lines, morality is of interest to many social scientists, including psychologists. One of the most famous discussions on the topic involves Lawrence Kohlberg, and the subsequent feminist-leaning reaction by Carol Gilligan. Kohlberg argued that morality spans several stages, and used the sick wife paradigm to gauge one's stage of moral development.

Does the end justify the means? The sick wife paradigm:

A man's wife is dying of a disease that can only be cured with medication neither of them can afford. Deeply in love, the man breaks into a pharmacy and steals the drug to save the life of his loved one. Stealing is wrong, but his intentions were pure. Should he have done it… at all? Should he go to jail alongside the opioids addict who broke in to get money for their next fix?

Is morality weak? Some people try to dominate others, and not the type of consensual domination seen in BDSM, but outright bullying. Of course to dominate, one preys on the other's weaknesses, be it insulting the person's crooked teeth, or stepping on their arthritic foot. But sometimes, the perpetrator may simply use your strengths against you - your goodness of heart, your compassion, the fact that you are a good, caring, sensitive person… I am of the Judeo-Christian tradition and believe most people are positive, but when the manipulative aggressors come out, I stand by the question: If the roles were reversed, how would they treat me?

A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true (Socrates). Illustration: Megan Jorgensen.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

What is ECT? Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT is a medical procedure used to treat symptoms of some mental illnesses such as severe depression, Bipolar Disorder and psychosis. ECT can also help people who have thoughts of hurting themselves or others. Your doctor may ask you to try ECT if other treatments have not worked in the past. During ECT, a small controlled electric current is passed through the brain.

How does ECT work? It is believed that ECT helps the part of the brain that controls emotions and thoughts to return to a more stable condition.

• ECT treatments are usually done twice a week.
• ECT may be used with other types of treatments, such as medications and psychotherapy.
• After you feel better ECT may be continued to help keep you feeling better.

How do you prepare for ECT?

• Your doctor will explain the procedure and answer your questions. You will need to agree in writing to have ECT.
• You will have blood tests and a cardiogram (a test of your heartbeats) to make sure you do not have any physical problems that prevent ECT.
• The day before treatment your doctor may make changes to your medication. You will need to stop eating and drinking after midnight.
• In the morning, your nurse will help you get ready and will accompany you to the treatment room.
• When you arrive in the treatment room, a nurse will put an intravenous line (TV) into your arm. Medication will be given to you to help relax your muscles and put you to sleep for the treatment.

What happens during the treatment?

• Your heartbeat, blood pressure, oxygen levels and your brain waves will be monitored.
• A blood pressure cuff is placed on one of your arms to measure your blood pressure. A small monitor is put on one of your fingers to measure the oxygen level in your blood.
• When you are asleep, one or two electrodes (small metal discs) are placed on the side of your head. These electrodes carry the electrical current through your brain. The current lasts from 1 to 4 seconds. You will have a short seizure (your muscles contract and then relax). This lasts 20 to 60 seconds.
• You will not feel pain.
• You will not remember this part of the treatment because you are asleep.

What can you expect after treatment?

• Your nurse will continue to check you’re your blood pressure, oxygen level, heartbeat and breathing.
• After resting, you may eat and return to your regular activities.

What are the side effects of the treatment?

• You may feel muscle aches, headache or jaw pain. The pain goes away after a few hours.
• You may feel confused and forget what happened just before and after the treatment. Your memory usually returns after a few hours.

What are the risks?

Electroconvulsive Therapy is a safe treatment with the same type of risks as any other treatment that uses general anesthesia. Your doctor will discuss possible risks with you.

Do you have other question about ECT?

If you have any question, it is very important to discuss them your doctor or nurse before you have ECT.

ECT. Illustration by Elena.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. A person with Bipolar Disorder has extreme “high” and “lows” in mood. It is different from the normal “ups” and “downs” that everybody goes through. Severe types of this illness can cause problems at home, work, school and social life… it may even result in suicide.

What causes Bipolar Disorder? – There is no one reason why someone develops Bipolar Disorder. Family history and brain chemistry play a big role in producing the illness. One`s personality and stress can bring on the illness.

Signs and Symptoms – A person with bipolar disorder has extreme changes in mood, such as overly “high” (Mania) and overly “low” (Depression). Some people have periods of normal mood in between. Periods of Mania may last several days to mouths. Periods of Depression may last several weeks to months.  These symptoms are a change from a person`s normal behaviour.

Symptoms of Mania may include:

• Very good mood
• Increased energy and restlessness
• Too many ideas too fast
• Talking more than usual or very quickly
• Less need for sleep without being tired
• Poor judgement and acting without thinking. For example, spending a lot of money, careless driving, increased use of alcohol or drugs, getting into fights, foolish financial decisions
• Unable to focus
• Exaggerated believes in one's abilities.  For example, believing he or she id God or has special powers (such as being able to fly), thinking he or she is smarter than others, etc.
• Feeling “on top of the world”.

Symptoms of Depression may include:

• Feeling sad, crying for no obvious reason
• Feeling hopeless and empty
• Feelings of guilty or worthless
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Low energy or feeling tired
• Difficulty thinking or remembering things
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Eating less or more than usual
• Thoughts of suicide

What are the treatments?: Bipolar disorder responds well to treatment once the illness has been diagnosed. Since the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder will keep coming back, ongoing treatment is needed. A combination of medication and psychosocial treatment (such as stress management) is best for managing the illness over time.

Sometimes changes to the treatment plan may be needed to manage the illness effectively. For example, the psychiatrist may change the type of dose of medication. Support from family, friends and self-help groups can also be very helpful.

A person with Bipolar Disorder has extreme “high” and “lows” in mood. It is different from the normal “ups” and “downs” that everybody goes through. Illustration: © Megan Jorgensen.