TL Series - Depression Part V
Note:
In chronic depression we see a unipolar disorder. There also exists
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression, which affects at
least 2 million Americans at any given time. The disorder is
characterized by alternating periods of extreme moods. A person with
Bipolar disorder experiences cycling of moods that usually swing from
being overly elated or irritable (mania) to sad and hopeless
(depression) and then back again, with periods of normal mood in
between. For those who have this disorder, it can be extremely
distressing and disruptive. The frequency of the swings between these
two states, and the duration of the mood, varies from person to
person.
Conclusion
The number of individuals who suffer from Clinical Depression is
vast. Many of these individuals do not or are unwilling to
understand what is happening with them. For some, Clinical
Depression is never diagnosed and we find these individuals living
day to day in a world of total sadness and desperation.
The roles of the Pharmacy Technician continue to change. One role
that is so very simple and much needed is just being there for the
customer. First and last customer contact in the retail setting is
almost always with the Pharmacy Technician. A caring smile and
empathy goes a long way for the patient dropping off and picking up
their medications. For some, a visit to the pharmacy is the only
outing they really have to look forward to in a world that has
shunned them in.
Glossary of Terms:
Affective Disorder: is the name for types of mental illnesses that
are characterized by extreme emotional responses and persistent mood
disturbances. Chronic depression and bipolar disorder are types of
affective disorders.
Bipolar Disorder: sometimes referred to as manic depression,
bipolar disorder is a serious affective disorder, in which dramatic
swings between manic "highs" and depressed "lows" alternate with
periods of normal mood.
Dementia: is a decline in overall mental ability, especially memory
loss, and is usually accompanied by emotional disturbances and
personality changes. Generally seen in the geriatric population.
Endogenous Depression: occurs when no stress related event is noted
in causing subsequent depression.
Exogenous Depression: occurs when there is an induced stimulus
causing stress and subsequent depression.
Mood: is a sustained emotional feeling that allows us a perception
of our surroundings and in doing so, brings us sadness and joy.
Neurotransmitters: are small molecules that ferry information from
the end of one nerve to the "beginning" of another by activating a
large molecule at the far end of the synapse called a receptor.
Unipolar Disorder: sometimes referred to as Clinical Depression,
unipolar disorder is a serious affective disorder, in which an
individual continuously has feelings of sadness and despondency
About the Author
Joe Medina, CPhT, BS Pharmacy, former Program Director of a Pharmacy
Technician Program at two community colleges and former clinical
Pharmacist at Fort Logan Mental Health Institute, a state psychiatric
hospital, in Colorado, is a lifetime national advocate for the
Pharmacy Technician Profession. Mr. Medina has helped produce
several textbooks and co-authored the "Pharmacy Technician Workbook &
Certification Review" through Morton Publishing. With fifteen years
as a Pharmacy Technician and fifteen years as a Pharmacist, Mr.
Medina understands the needs of the Pharmacy Technician and the
important role they play in interacting with Pharmacists, Medical
paraprofessionals and the community in the Pharmacy setting.
