Thursday, January 21, 2021

 Suicide in Depression

                                    


              Of all the known mental disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent.  Depression affects 15-17% of our population, and 15% of this MDD group are at risk of suicide.  The article's focus is to evaluate our main research studies of those with MDD who are at risk for suicide. The goal is for planning effective suicide prevention strategies and therapeutic interventions for clinicians.

 


                A broad and comprehensive overview has been conducted by using PubMed/Medline for the topics 'Major Depressive Disorder' and 'Suicide'.  I would encourage you to read the article in its entirety as it goes into great depth on many variables involved in suicide in depression. 

 

                The results, in layperson's terms, are as follows:   Despite possible pathophysiological factors (changes to the functioning of the brain), which may explain the complexity of suicide in depressed people, scientific evidence has supposed the combination of additional factors.  These factors include genetics, epigenetics, and our internal and external stressors such as interpersonal, professional, financial, and psychiatric disorders.  Other factors that may play a part include our body's central stress response system, our lipid profile, our biomarkers (molecules that show the presence of disease or dysfunction), and our brain-derived neurotrophic factor (the gene that provides instructions for making a protein found in the brain and spinal cord). 

 

                    In conclusion to this study, suicide is seen to be a very complex and multifaceted phenomenon where many variables come in to play, especially with those experiencing major depressive disorder.  Modern psychiatry needs a much better interpretation of suicide risk.  In addition, we need to be much more careful in our assessment of prevention strategies for those who may be in danger of suicide.



                  Please read the complete article for more information:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340132427_Understanding_the_Complex_of_Suicide_in_Depression_from_Research_to_Clinics

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

         Diseases of the Mind and Suicide


                For far too long, we have been placing our minds on the back burner.  Science has sped along, figuring out causes and cures for many "physical " illnesses and diseases.  This is a wonderful thing.  We now have sound treatments for heart diseases, kidney disease, cancer, and many other physical conditions.  However, we have left the one organ out that controls all of the other organs.  This is the brain.  I'm not speaking about treating brain tumors and other "physical" conditions.  I'm speaking of something far more illusive; the mind.


            Much has been talked about in the realm of situational and environmental causes for mind, or if you will, mental illnesses.  However, not much has been shed on the biological nature and genetic causes for these conditions.  In this blog, I will explore the science behind diseases of the mind and suicide.  


            The question is not why we are looking into these diseases.  It's why has it taken us so long to do so?