Abstract
The term depression is used to define the state of a bad mood. In order to diagnose depression, the symptoms of the condition must persist for a period of at least two weeks. Generally, depression is defined as a mental state or a chronic mental disorder that is characterized by a feeling of despair, loneliness, sadness, anhedonia and reduced self-esteem. Depressive disorders are more common for women than men. There are certain hypotheses that indicate the fact that hereditary factors contribute significantly to the development of depression. Needless to say, depressive disorders have been one of the major causes of involuntary admission to the mental hospital. It is estimated by the WHO that about 120 million people in the world suffer from some form of depression yearly. 10% of these are adult citizens of the US above 18 years of age.
The current paper explores the pharmacological effects of anti-depressants in the treatment of depressive and related disorders, including ADHD, OCD, anti-social disorders, eating/sleeping disorders, and clinical depression. The constructivism of this paper lies in its substantial literature review, discussion section, and nursing implication section where the author reveals both the effectiveness and side effects of psychiatric drugs that are used to cure depression. Practical advice of nurses is given for those who work in mental hospitals to reduce side effects and prevent worsening of the patients’ condition.