Performance pressure no trigger for depression

No increase in depression

05/10/2011

Studies of health insurance companies say a steady increase in mental illness. According to some surveys, every tenth German will suffer from depression once in his life. However, the German Depressionshilfe Foundation sees no significant increase in the incidence rates. Rather, today more people would openly confess to their illness, diagnoses are made faster and those affected receive faster treatment.

On the second of October under the patronage and moderation of the entertainer Harald Schmidt the "1. German Patient Congress Depression "in the Leipzig Gewandhaus. Around 1000 doctors, therapists and patients from all over Germany took part in the event. The congress was organized by the German Depressionshilfe and the German Depression League. "Depression should not be a taboo!" Was the unanimous and conclusive opinion of the organizers, discussants and participants. In a total of six lectures, among others with the speakers Thomas Müller-Rörich, Eva Straub, Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Hegerl, John P. Kummer, dr. Nico Niedermeier and Prof. Dr. med. Dr. Helmut Remschmidt was presented with therapy options and "ways for a healthy life". What was new was that the treatment routes were discussed not only from the point of view of the experts, but also from the point of view of the patients. "For the first time ever, the Patient Congress provides a platform for experts and patients to speak. As a concerned organization, we are very happy about it, "said Thomas Müller-Rörich chairman of the Depression League.

Pressure to perform as a trigger for depression?
The phone rings and the next appointment is already on. Sabine G. has not eaten all day yet. "When the day is full of appointments, I sometimes forget my own basic needs. In the evening, I'm often so tired and already fall asleep at the news. " Those who suffer from excessive stress, often forgetting themselves, sometimes feel empty and exhausted. Many then think of depression. "But depression usually has nothing to do with performance pressure, because the disease can affect any one of us," explains Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Hegerl at the patient congress. To feel overwhelmed and to suffer from stress "accompanies any depression". But the fact that only those affected by depressive episodes suffer a manifest depression is a fallacy, as the expert explained. To escape a depression by compensation, such as a long vacation, is in the opinion of Hegerl futile. "Because the depression travels with you!" This means that although pressure to perform can have a beneficial effect, it does not represent a trigger for a long time. After all, even people "who are not overtaxed or unemployed in their professional life can also suffer from depression", as Gritli Bertram, a social worker from Hanover, explained. "Depression can affect anyone, regardless of the job situation".

The experts at the patient conference say that about five percent (around 4 million people) of all Germans suffer from the typical symptoms such as depressed moods, listlessness, difficulty falling asleep, guilt feelings and fears. Thus, mental suffering is now one of the leading common diseases in Germany. "That can not only be due to the bad TV program," said Harald Schmidt provocatively during the congress. Since the public perception is almost silent and quiet, as opposed to frequent occurrence, most patients do not have a lobby despite the massive loss of life. In public, therefore, the backgrounds are often completely unknown. Therefore, it also comes to the wrong assumptions, depressions meet only those who suffer from permanent stress.

Depression is in phases
"Classical depression is in phases, it creeps in and often does not stop until after several months," explained Hegerl. "However, if several of these symptoms last 14 days, one speaks of a depression requiring treatment." "With effective psychotherapeutic procedures and medication, we usually achieve very good treatment success," explained Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Hegerl. "The prerequisite for this is that the disease is correctly diagnosed." First and foremost, those affected are provided with antidepressants and intensive psychotherapy. Sometimes hospital stays are necessary. During the therapy, the focus is above all on everyday behavioral routines. During the therapy, a structuring daily routine is discussed. The course of the day should be balanced, for example, the patients learn to say "no". "Many sufferers sacrifice themselves and are always there only for others," said Hegerl, who is also head of the psychiatric department at the University of Leipzig.

Depression was hidden by other diagnoses
Only a few years ago, depression was literally hidden behind other diagnoses. At that time someone simply had "only back pain, today it's the burnout syndrome". Today's suicide rate also speaks for the success of improved therapeutic aids and early-onset treatments. When about 30,000 years ago, about 18,000 people per year took their lives, today there are 9600 people. The percentage of men in relation to women is still very high. That's 30 people a day today, "but it's a sensational improvement," unlike at the time.

Proper diagnosis and efficient therapy
The most important prerequisite for a recovery is the correct diagnosis, as Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Hegerl explained. "Only ten percent of those with depression will receive optimal care," says a lecturer. Christine Rummel-Kluge. Many people still do not know enough about the condition. Others are afraid or ashamed of stigmatization. Many times there are also "diagnostic and therapeutic deficits in care". A first step to change this was the first patient congress depression in Leipzig. Further events of this kind are to follow. (Sb)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann