Depression and anxiety in young people are common but dangerous states of mind. Depression can be a severe and debilitating condition that reduces the quality of life and plunges a person into a vicious circle of bad mood and well-being, from which it is very difficult to get out. Ways to fight depression include proper daily routine, exercise, and dietary regimen, including daily walks in the fresh air, drinking enough fluids, getting vitamin C, and getting enough sleep. According to scientists, causes of depression include loneliness, and unmet social support (Moeller & Seehuus, 2019; Rankin, 2018). Interestingly, gender is another factor since the depressive state of mind is more prevalent in males (Gao et al., 2020). This paper aims to use the medical scales to evaluate the levels of depression and anxiety in an 18-year-old male patient and provide treatment recommendations.
PROMIS Emotional Distress-Anxiety-Short form
According to the answers provided by the patient, he got 13 points under the depression short form and 16 points under the anxiety short form. These numbers correspond to – 13 and 16 points raw scores, and 51.2 and 55.1 T-scores. According to the scale interpretation, the levels of depression in the patient are none to slight. This means that the patient shows no signs of depression, and his psychological state is generally good. At the same time, the scores for the anxiety imply that the patient has a mild form of anxiety, which means that the patient shows some signs of anxiety and his mental state is somewhat disturbed.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Beck Depression Inventory
On the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale medical score, the patient got 20 points of maximal 60 points, and, considering that the answers could be counted from 0 to 3 points per answer, this scale brings evidence that the patient experiences mild symptoms of depression. Then, on the Beck Depression Inventory, the patient got 13 points, which corresponds to a mild mood disorder. This means that the patient is showing mild symptoms of depression, which is still not considered clinical depression. The other heavier states, according to this inventory, include borderline clinical depression, moderate depression, severe depression, and extreme depression.
Summary Evaluation of Data
Given the above, the patient demonstrated none to slight levels of depression (PROMIS Emotional Distress-Anxiety-Short form), mild symptoms of depression (CES-D scale), and mild mood disturbance (Beck Depression Inventory). At the same time, the patient showed a mild form of anxiety according to the PROMIS Emotional Distress-Anxiety-Short form. These results suggest that the patient may need some intervention to prevent further development of symptoms and improve his mood. The patient does not require medical intervention, only the observance of certain rules of conduct. Symptoms may be caused by external circumstances, such as increased workload at school or a stressful environment at home, as well as a lack of attention to self-care. Mild symptoms of depression and anxiety do not imply the risks of self-harm but may have some harmful consequences in the long term, so these forms of mood disturbance should be treated through behavioral intervention.
Recommendations for Evidence-Based Treatment and Interventions
Even though mild depression is only the first level on the ascending depression scale, it should not be left untreated. The symptoms of mild depression can be subtle enough that the patient is not aware of the problem, which is why the above scales are so important for diagnosis. When patients are unaware of their disorder, they may mistakenly view low moods or well-being as traits of their personality, leading to destructive feelings of guilt (“What are the signs and symptoms,” 2021). Guilt can exacerbate feelings of sadness, depression, negativity, and fatigue, and this complex of feelings is not the norm. In the normal state, bad emotions can arise in response to a sad or disturbing event and disappear when the event passes.
The symptoms of mild depression, according to the DSM-5, are grouped with the symptoms of major depressive disorder, but for the latter to be diagnosed, the symptoms must be more severe. At the same time, to diagnose mild depression, the patient may experience at least two symptoms from the list for a minimum of two years (“What are the signs and symptoms,” 2021). Depression differs from the normal state in the absence of a cause and the persistence of symptoms. Notably, mild depression, like more severe forms of the disease, aggravates the symptoms of other comorbid conditions, and these diseases, in turn, aggravate the symptoms of depression.
In the absence of interventions and treatment, there is a high risk that the symptoms of mild depression will worsen and move into the stage of major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder is a dangerous illness, as it carries a risk of suicide, poor physical health, including chronic disorders, and hinders the immune system (“What are the signs and symptoms,” 2021). Equally important, depression is often associated with addictions, including drug and alcohol addictions, as the substances alleviate the symptoms of emotional pain.
Treatments for mild depression include medications, psychotherapy, and deep brain stimulation through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The latter type of intervention is becoming increasingly popular as it has proven effective for patients who do not respond to other interventions. During the TMS, the impulses directly affect the areas of the brain that are involved in the depressive symptoms (“What are the signs and symptoms,” 2021). TMS may reduce symptoms of mild depression that is treatment-resistant and major depressive disorder, including the elimination of suicidal thoughts. This therapy also helps prevent the return of symptoms after the depression has been treated.
For the mild depression symptoms that are treatable through psychotherapy, behavioral therapy can give very good results. Behavior modification should include changing daily routines and dietary habits. In particular, patients should have at least 8-10 hours of sleep and take daily walks in the fresh air to expose themselves to sunlight (“What are the signs and symptoms,” 2021). Equally important, the patient’s diet should include sufficient drinking water and vitamin C since the lack of these elements causes depressive symptoms. Light exercise can help reduce cortisol levels, and consequently, symptoms of depression. Patients should also avoid eating heavy meals, although meals may be filling and not significantly limit the patient.
More importantly, behavioral therapy can include the need to live according to a fixed routine, where the patient wakes up, eats, and goes to bed at the same time. This approach disciplines and stabilizes the patient’s habits, which further leads to relief of symptoms and recovery. It is desirable that the patient has a job or other occupation in which he can achieve some success every day, as people with depression especially need a sense of purpose.
Mild Anxiety
Addressing the symptoms of mild anxiety may involve a similar behavioral therapy focusing on activities that will lower cortisol and adrenalin levels and thus anxiety. Such activities are, first of all, physical exercises in the fresh air (Abraham, 2020). Just like mild depression, mild anxiety may not be recognized by patients and may be perceived as a character trait which causes feelings of fear. Therefore, the symptoms of mild anxiety should be addressed through medical intervention.
These symptoms include anxiety that can be ignored, mild nervousness, trembling or sweating, and nausea. More severe symptoms of anxiety can lead to panic attacks, where patients become dependent on the symptoms so much that they fear them. Because mild anxiety can be ignored for a long time, it becomes dangerous and overwhelming. The main difference between mild and severe anxiety is the lesser intensity of fear of the symptoms.
Behavioral therapy includes regular exercise, even if the patient does not have a job or other daily activities and concerns. Through the release of cortisol in the body, stress levels are reduced, and endorphin production improves overall well-being by calming the body. During exercise, the body also releases adrenaline, reducing anxiety and stress (Abraham, 2020). Sufficient sleep and a daily regimen allow for balancing the production of serotonin.
Remarkably, it is now generally accepted that not only do anxious thoughts cause anxiety in the body, but an anxious body leads to anxious thoughts. This idea is at the heart of behavioral therapy and has proven effective for many patients. Healthy nutrition is also important, as the body must receive all the elements it needs. Meditation and relaxation exercises can complement and diversify behavioral therapy.
Conclusion
Thus, the medical scales were used to evaluate the levels of depression and anxiety in the 18-year-old male patient, and treatment recommendations were provided. According to the scales, the patient demonstrated mild depression and mild anxiety symptoms. One of the main areas of work with patients who show this level of anxiety and depression is behavioral therapy. The main elements of this therapy include a daily routine, sufficient sleep, drinking enough water, proper nutrition, getting sunlight and fresh air, and light to moderate physical activity.
References
Abraham, M. (2020). Mild anxiety: What it is and how to treat it. Web.
Gao, W., Ping, S., & Liu, X. (2020). Gender differences in depression, anxiety, and stress among college students: A longitudinal study from China. Journal of Affective Disorders, 263, 292-300.
Moeller, R. W., & Seehuus, M. (2019). Loneliness as a mediator for college students’ social skills and experiences of depression and anxiety. Journal of Adolescence, 73, 1-13.
Rankin, J. A., Paisley, C. A., Mulla, M. M., & Tomeny, T. S. (2018). Unmet social support needs among college students: Relations between social support discrepancy and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65(4), 474.
What are the signs and symptoms of mild depression and how is it treated? (2021). PULSE. Web.