Matriculants can become depressed if they do poorly in the exam, or after the results are published and they have performed poorly.
According to a local psychologist, exam stress is not related to depression.
Most people develop temporary symptoms of depression when something bad happens in their lives, but the symptoms usually disappears within a short period of time.
He says some people with recurrent depressive episodes need to take anti-depressive medication for the rest of their lives.
If anti-depressive medication do not have the desired effect, as a last resort, electro convulsive treatment (ECT) is indicated.
A very few people with depression do not respond to either anti-depressive medication, or ECT treatment.
In almost all cases of depression the neuro-transmitter levels in the brain drops.
A very small percentage of people with recurrent depressive episodes need to take anti-depressive medication
for the rest of their lives.
If anti-depressive medication do not have the desired effect, as a last resort, ECT (electro convulsive treatment) is indicated.
The psychologist says very few people with depression do not respond to either anti-depressive medication, or ECT treatment.
The best results are achieved when medical an psychological treatment are combined.
The side effects of anti-depressive medication usually disappear between four and ten days.
The onset of depression is sometimes linked to times of the year.
In most cases the episodes begin during autumn and winter and remit in spring.
The psychologist says major depressive disorder is twice as common in adolescent and adult females than in adolescent and adult males.
Rates in men and women are the highest in the 25 to 44 year old age group.
Some people have isolated episodes that are separated by many years without any depressive symptoms and others have increasingly frequent episodes as they grow older.
Depression has a negative influence on a person’s social, intellectual and interpersonal behavior.
Sometimes the depressive feelings are so overwhelming that a person finds it impossible to get through each day, finding it difficult to concentrating in both professional and private life.
Symptoms
- A depressed mood most of the day including feeling sad or empty and tearful.
- Markedly diminished interest in all activities most of the day.
- Significant weight loss when not dieting.
- In children consider failure to make the expected weight gains.
- Insomnia or hyper-insomnia nearly every day.
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly ever day.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt.
- Experience concentration and memory problems
- Suicidal thoughts of death.
Types of depression
- Mood disorders is an umbrella term used to describe the most common forms of depression, which include:
- Major depression which can last up to a year if not treated.
- Bipolar disorder this causes mood swings that soar to unusual elation and then plummet to depression.
- Dysthymia a less severe form of clinical depression.
- Postpartum depression is normally experienced by women during their pregnancy period and after giving birth.
People who experience these above mentioned symptoms longer than two weeks should consult with their GP’s as soon as possible.
