We live in a society where demanding performance is often built into the model. In this context, it is very difficult for a depressed person to cope with the constraints imposed on all sides. The intervention of her doctor will allow him to regain confidence to do better and avoid recurrences.
General practitioners are at the forefront in the management of depression. They realize, in fact 73% of diagnoses. But they face a paradox. Some will blame them to intervene too early therapeutic treatment and therefore does not allow time for their patients to cope by themselves in managing to overcome their problem. Conversely, others complain that management is late and it leaves the depressed person struggling to live alone and suffering deleterious. The eternal debate also seems unaware that half of the depressions are not treated, while the number of those who would stop their current treatment is not negligible.
Depressed mood and diagnosis of depression
Professor Maurice Ferreri stresses the need to distinguish between depression dépressivité a transitory state where we can more easily escape.
However, some signs are unmistakable:
- when sadness is pathological
- everything appears featureless,
- that there is a lack of interest in everything
- when there is any more fun,
- when we idealize the idea of suicide ( "why bother living?").
When these symptoms are present for 2 weeks with no relief is found, then we can talk about depression.
Doctor and Patient united against depression
And relapses are frequent. The refore, it is important that the physician succeeds in establishing a relationship of confidence allowing him to better hear the complaints imperceptible. The glances, silences, sighs ... one can have significant meaning. To him also to assess accurately the family, professional, social depression to identify risk factors. The therapeutic alliance is an essential component of diagnosis and treatment of depressive episodes. "Making a diagnosis is to engage with the patient and not to discharge him by prescribing antidepressants" concluded Dr Philippe Nuss.
