KRISTIAN KARL B.

KIW-IS

MEDICAL/SURGICAL DIAGNOSIS:   Major Depression

ACTIVITY 4:  Read about your patient’s diagnosis using your textbook (MedSurg/ specify). Focus on
the description of the disease, the etiology or cause, what are the signs and symptoms and why do
they occur, what are the recommended interventions and nursing interventions. Digest the
information that you have obtained. Take time to process and analyze them. Once you are ready, in
500 words or briefly answer the following questions.   

    Signs & Symptoms (book)  Signs &

symptoms 
Description of the Disease  Etiology 
 (patient) 

 Major depression is classified  Pathophysiology  symptoms of a major depressive  Depressed

under mood disorders which disorder according to DSM-IV-TR mood
The underlying pathophysiology
are characterized by diagnostic criteria:
of major depressive disorder Weight
disturbances in the regulation
has not been clearly defined.  Depressed mood. The changes
of mood,
affect of a depressed
behavior, and affect that go  Current evidence points Change in
person is one of sadness,
beyond the normal to a complex sleep
dejection, helplessness,
fluctuations that most people interaction between pattern
and hopelessness.
experience. neurotransmitter
Tiredness
availability and  Anhedonism. There is
 Also called
receptor regulation and decreased attention to and Difficulty
as unipolar major
sensitivity underlying enjoyment from previously thinking
depression, major
the affective symptoms. pleasurable activities.
depression is a
syndrome of a  Clinical and preclinical  Weight
persistently sad mood trials suggest a changes. Unintentional
lasting two (2) weeks disturbance in central weight change of 5% or
or longer. nervous system more in a month.
serotonin (5-HT)
 It is accompanied by  Change in sleep
activity as an important
other problems like pattern. Sleep
factor.
feelings of guilt, disturbances are common,
helplessness, or  Other either insomnia or
hopelessness, poor neurotransmitters hypersomnia.
concentration, sleep implicated include
 Agitation or psychomotor
disturbances, norepinephrine,
lethargy, appetite loss retardation. A general
dopamine, glutamate,
or weight gain, slowdown of motor
and brain-derived
anhedonia, loss of activity commonly
neurotrophic factor.
mood reactivity, and accompanies depression.
 The role of CNS 5-HT
thoughts of death.  Tiredness. Physically there
activity in the
 Suicide is the most is evidence of weakness
pathophysiology of
serious complication and fatigue-very light
major depressive
of major depression. energy to carry on with the
disorder is suggested by
It occurs in nearly activities of daily living
the therapeutic efficacy
15% of patients with (ADLs).
of selective serotonin
untreated depression. reuptake inhibitors  Worthlessness or
(SSRIs). guilt inappropriate to the
  An integrative model of situation (probably
late-onset depression delusional).
 
posits that age-related
 Difficulty thinking,
  brain changes and
focusing, and making
disease-related changes
  decisions.
coupled with
  physiologic  Hopelessness,
vulnerabilities and helplessness, and/or
psychosocial adversity, suicidal ideations.
lead to disruptions in
the functional circuitry
of emotion regulation.

Causes

Genetic, biochemical, physical,

psychological, and social factors
are linked to major depression.

 Genetic factor. Two-
three times more
common in people with
first-degree relative
with the disorder.

 Biological
factors. Primary defect
sites at prefrontal
cortex and basal
ganglia. It may also
involve serotonin,
neuroendocrine, and
hypothalamic-pituitary-
adrenal (HPA)
regulation systems.
May also be associated
with abnormal cortisol
levels.

 Psychosocial
factors. There is an
unclear relationship
between psychological
stress, stressful life
events, and depression
onset.

 Pharmacologic
factors. Prescribed
drugs for certain
medical and psychiatric
conditions can cause
depression. Some of
these medications
include
antihypertensives,
psychotropics,
 antiparkinsonian drugs,
oral antidiabetics,
steroids, and
chemotherapeutic
agents.

Reference:  Textbooks /Online resources allowed but should not come from blogs, Wikipedia,  
https://nurseslabs.com/major-depression/