CLINICAL: depression is more
than just a case of the blues, say
experts.

Symptoms may include forget-
fulness, a persistent loss of ap-
petite, the inability to sleep, and
constant fatigue or restlessness.

According to the results of a re-
cent nation-wide survey in the U.S.
many people may be suffering
from depression without realizing
it.

‘*We know that clinical depres-
‘sion is. under-recognized and,
therefore, under treated,’ com-
ments psychiatrist Dr. William
Zung, of the Duke University
Medical Centre, North Carolina.

“In certain cases, depression
“may be associated with a chemical

imbalance in the brain or a change
in body chemistry.’'

Dr. Zung reported on the suc-
cessful use of a self-rating depres-
sion scale he developed.

The scale has been used as a
diagnostic aid by general practi-
tioners and psychiatrists for more
than 20 years.

He describes the scale as a tool
for checking ‘‘the emotional vital
signs’’ of a patient.

It consists of 20 statements, each
of which relates to a specific char-
acteristic of clinical depression in
four basic. areas: physical,
psychological, psycho-motor and
mood,

The patient rates them according
to how applicable they are to his

life during the preceeding two
weeks.

He can check one of four boxes
with headings ranging from ‘none
or a little of the time.’”

Examples include: I get tired for
no reason; I have crying spells or
feel like it; | am restless and can’t
sleep. '

“By using a simple scoring
method,”? says Dr. Zung, ‘‘the
physician can use the scale in con-
junction with his own clinical
observations to gauge the patient’s
emotional state.

The scale is proving to be useful
in evaluating therapy as well as

Greater Vancouver area.

39 ~ Wediesday, June 4, 1986 - North Shore News

screening for depression. Those
who are treated successfully tend
to score better when given the scale
to complete a second time.’’

Anti-depressant drugs are often
used successfully but you have to
identify it before you can treat it.

“Clinical depression is more
than a case of the blues,” points
out Dr. Zung.

“‘Many people fail to make the
connection between, say, forget-
fulness or the inability to sleep and
clinical depression. That is why we
speak of it as hidden or masked,”
he said.

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Dr. Zung reports the condition
is found in children as well as
adults, with the highest incidence
in people between the ages of 25
and 44,

He adds that twice as many
women as men are diagnosed as
having depression.

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