OCD& Depression.

What Depression is and how it relates to OCD.

• Depression is 1 of the most common Mental Illnesses, almost 12 million people have this at 1 point in their lives.
• "The causes of depression are best considered as an interplay of biological (eg. genetics), psychological (personality and cognitive style) and social/environmental (distressing life events or chronic stressors) factors. " (*)
• Depression and OCD will often be found together, especially with adults.
• Less common is it for young children and adolescents to have both.
• Finding out whether the Depression is causing the OCD to get worse or for the OCD to cause the depression to worsen is a question which is on many sufferer's mind.
  Maybe it's not all that important to figure out, since they might be equally influencing each other.
  But the continuous stress a person endures due to her/his OCD might trigger Depression, which in turn may worsen the symptoms of the OCD. Although for some that have OCD, the depression may actually cause them to be so down they will obsess less about wanting to perform their rituals to perfection, they just don't care enough to or lack the energy.
• Treating depression involves altering the Brain chemistry. Most medications prescribed to treat OCD will tackle both depression and OCD, at correct dosages of course.
  A smaller dosage is used for treating depression alone and will have to be increased to treat the OCD as well.
• Approximately 85% of the patients respond to treatment. But only 10% to 15% of the patients suffering from Major Depression are treated adequately.

Participate in a POLL: OCD related Depression.
QUESTION: Do you suffer from depression due to your OCD?
Participate in a POLL: OCD vs. Depression.
QUESTION: OCD causes Depression/Depression makes OCD worse?

The Difference.

• When both disorders are found independently they do not seem to have any touching grounds.
  Meaning that not all who have OCD are feeling sad or without pleasure and those who are depressed don't often seem to have the intrusive thoughts or rituals seen with OCD.

Useful links concerning Depression.:

• Where Else Can Help Be Obtained for Depression?...
• Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association.
• Welcome to Dr. Ivan's DEPRESSION CENTRAL. "This site is Internet's central clearinghouse for information on all types of depressive disorders and on the most effective treatments for individuals suffering from Major Depression, Manic-Depression (Bipolar Disorder), Cyclothymia, Dysthymia and other mood disorders."
• Depression Reality: Information and Support.
• Mood Disorders Unit, Depression. Site with loads of information on depression, with a very easy to use overview.
• Genetics and Biochemistry of Depression.(*) A great section on the Mood Disorders Unit site which will explain more about the genetics behind Depression.
• All About Depression. "We are dedicated to providing accurate, current, and relevant information about clinical depression to the general public."
• Genetic Causes of Depression. Part of the All About Depression Site.

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