tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post7312156323788941334..comments2023-11-14T20:22:36.929-08:00Comments on Knowledge Is Necessity: The Dreaded DSM Depression Check-ListJohn McManamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-7742965309427163202011-03-19T08:27:17.490-07:002011-03-19T08:27:17.490-07:00John, I'm the same "Anonymous" who d...John, I'm the same "Anonymous" who did the two posts above. An interesting thing has just happened that I wanted to share:<br /><br />Background: son has had recurring major atypical depression for about 10 years, with one or two hypo episodes back in the beginning. Nothing helped with fatigue, hypersomnia, lack of energy -- the usual lab tests showed him to fit as a fiddle. ButAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-3579230808187687732011-03-17T10:52:03.359-07:002011-03-17T10:52:03.359-07:00Hey, Anonymous2. I've been thinking along thes...Hey, Anonymous2. I've been thinking along these lines. Depression is extremely complex and we're probably talking about dozens of illness and not just one. But as a rough guide we can break down depression into "vegetative" and "agitated."<br /><br />So whether we are talking meds, supplements, or yoga we are employing similar strategies - energizers for the vegetativeJohn McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-72920996076910541282011-03-17T10:31:21.913-07:002011-03-17T10:31:21.913-07:00Hi, Anonymous1. Exactly. Treating depression is a ...Hi, Anonymous1. Exactly. Treating depression is a crapshoot, so we don't know in advance how an antidepressant will work on someone. But if it is messing up their sleep then it is going to mess up their depression. Messed up sleep is not a mere side effect anyone should have to put up with. This is a severe drug reaction that may make your depression a lot worse.John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-39445292356476979132011-03-17T10:23:06.971-07:002011-03-17T10:23:06.971-07:00A little bit off-topic, except relevant to the &qu...A little bit off-topic, except relevant to the "we all get the same prescription no matter the symptoms" comment :<br /><br />I have recently shifted my focus from "what can be done for atypical depressive features" to "what do these drugs actually do"?<br /><br />This, in turn, has led me to start looking into the psycho-neuro-pharmacology side of things. I'm Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-81176982150332426692011-03-15T06:46:25.026-07:002011-03-15T06:46:25.026-07:00Re: "Seriously, this is what it is like with...Re: "Seriously, this is what it is like with depression and sleep, where sleep is both a symptom of depression plus a bunch of disorders in its own right."<br /><br />And then sleep disturbances (or, more accurately, sleep problems so bad they're ruining your life) can also be caused by the meds you're taking for depression, either alone or in a drug-drug interaction, or be &Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-82675944194277000722011-03-14T16:18:57.616-07:002011-03-14T16:18:57.616-07:00Hey, Willa. Is your "fever disorder" the...Hey, Willa. Is your "fever disorder" the same as my "runny nose disease"? It looks like you've reduced my entire disease (nasal discharge) to a mere symptom of your disorder.<br /><br />In MY disease, it is "fever" that is the mere symptom.<br /><br />Seriously, this is what it is like with depression and sleep, where sleep is both a symptom of depression plus a John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-29016829227601459832011-03-14T16:10:24.182-07:002011-03-14T16:10:24.182-07:00Hey, Gledwood. Great comments. This is why I love ...Hey, Gledwood. Great comments. This is why I love my job. You hit on a number of very interesting points, namely"<br /><br />1. People love the DSM check-list. You're absolutely right, which is why check-lists are so dangerous. But if we must have a check-list, let's make it an accurate one that tells us what is really going on. On mcmanweb, I came up with my own list, which is John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-10939198823631576112011-03-14T15:52:47.243-07:002011-03-14T15:52:47.243-07:00I have been thinking lately of the symptom list fo...I have been thinking lately of the symptom list for diagnosing "Fever Disorder" -- You'd have to have either fever and/or fatigue and four others: constipation OR diarrhea; inflated OR deflated white blood cell count; pallid OR florid complexion; dry OR sweaty skin; sore throat, abdominal pain; tenderness of body part; dizziness; nasal discharge.<br /><br />And I'll bet that theWilla Goodfellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816752444634576606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-88184870658600033032011-03-14T15:52:29.248-07:002011-03-14T15:52:29.248-07:00Hi, I've followed you for a long time and you ...Hi, I've followed you for a long time and you always have insightful stuff to say about that lovely Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.<br /><br />The tick-box approach that you so hate is what people love so very much about the DSM. That's surely why the more regimented DSM criteria tend to be rolled out far more frequently than the less-bulletpointed WHO's ICD-10. I happen to have a Gledwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09308172310486574510noreply@blogger.com