Experimental Treatment Is Better Than Control Treatment - Argumentative Essay

Aim Statement

The study aims to test the hypothesis that experimental treatment is better than control treatment at improving the mechanism and decreasing symptoms of the major depressive disorder in individuals with a history of stress or trauma, family history illness, females, abuse drugs, have no social support group, and with chronic disease.

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Public Health Significance

A major depressive disorder is a condition that is stated to be characterized by a lack of interest in outside stimuli and a persistent feeling of sadness. The disease is also referred to as unipolar or major depression. It is known to have a significant impact on various elements of an individual's life leading to changes in behavior as well as many physical functions including sleep and appetite. It also affects the interest these individuals have on everyday activities leading to negative performances.

A major depressive disorder is considered the most prevalent mental disorder is making it one of the world's issues in public health. The disorder is said to be long-lived often and substantially impairing an individual with the condition. The major depressive disorder has been indicated to the leading cause of disability in the united states for individuals aged between 15 to 44.3 years old (Ferrari et al., 2013). The total number of American adults estimated to be affected by major depressive disorder is more than 16.1 million (Ferrari et al., 2013). It affects 6.7% of the united states population who are aged 18 years and older in any given year (Ferrari et al., 2013). Despite the evidence that major depressive disorder can develop in individuals at any age, it has been reported that the median age at which the condition develops is 32.5 years old. Also, data has shown that the condition is more prevalent among women compared to men.

Risk factors are often described as any characteristics, attribute, or exposure that are possessed by individuals, which have been found to increase the chances of them contracting an injury or condition. Some examples of risk factors include unsafe sanitation, water, and hygiene, unsafe sex, underweight, and blood pressure. The major depressive disorder has been indicated to be associated with various risk factors. One of the main risk factors in this condition is the personality trait of the individual. Characteristics such as pessimism, low self-esteem, self-critical, and being too independent gave been shown to increase the likelihood of contracting this condition.

Another risk factor of this condition is stressful or traumatic events that an individual das previously faced. These events include death or loss of a loved one, sexual or physical abuse, financial problems, or a problematic relationship. Also, its chances are increased by the presence of a blood relative that has had bipolar disorder, depression, suicide, or alcoholism. An individual with a history of mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety significantly increases the likelihood of an individual to suffer from the major depressive disorder. The presence of chronic or severe illness such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer are also a risk factor for this condition. Alcohol or drug abuse, as well as specific medication such as sleeping pills, increases the likelihood of an individual to suffer from MDD.

Conclusion

The conditioned has been associated with consequences that are described as the outcomes as a result of a disorder. One of the main implications of the disorder is the cognitive dysfunction that is present in almost every patient diagnosed with the condition. It causes deficits in memory attention, executive function, negative cognitive bias, and processing speed (Culpepper, 2015). These factors directly lead to reduced social and occupational functioning as well as low mood symptoms. An individual with MDD fas also been indicated to undergo physical illness or pain, suicidal feelings, as well as self-mutilation.

References

Ferrari, A. J., Somerville, A. J., Baxter, A. J., Norman, R., Patten, S. B., Vos, T., & Whiteford, H. A. (2013). Global variation in the prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder: a systematic review of the epidemiological literature. Psychological medicine, 43(3), 471-481.

Culpepper, L. (2015). Impact of untreated major depressive disorder on cognition and daily function. J Clin Psychiatry, 76(7), e901.

Kupfer, D. J., Frank, E., & Phillips, M. L. (2012). Major depressive disorder: new clinical, neurobiological, and treatment perspectives. The Lancet, 379(9820), 1045-1055.