Can mild depression cause fantasies?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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In clinical settings regarding patients with mild depression, hallucinatory symptoms generally do not occur. It is commonly believed in clinical practice that patients with moderate to severe depression might experience hallucinations. However, according to the new mental illness diagnostic standard, IC11, it is considered that patients with mild depression may also exhibit symptoms of delusions and hallucinations. Therefore, the presence of hallucinations and delusions in patients should be assessed based on the severity of the condition. Typically, the occurrences of hallucinations and delusions indicate a higher severity of depression, generally moderate to severe. If diagnosed with psychotic depression, the clinical approach should involve the combined treatment using antidepressants and antipsychotic medications to address both the psychotic and depressive symptoms effectively.

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Postpartum depression can generally be cured within a year in 70% of women. In families where such cases occur, it is important to pay attention, communicate more with the patient, and provide sufficient care and guidance. Additionally, timely psychological and pharmacological treatments should be administered to boost the patient's confidence and self-worth. It is also necessary to use antidepressant medications under a doctor's guidance that do not enter the breast milk, meaning they do not affect breastfeeding.

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Can mild depression cause fantasies?

In clinical settings regarding patients with mild depression, hallucinatory symptoms generally do not occur. It is commonly believed in clinical practice that patients with moderate to severe depression might experience hallucinations. However, according to the new mental illness diagnostic standard, IC11, it is considered that patients with mild depression may also exhibit symptoms of delusions and hallucinations. Therefore, the presence of hallucinations and delusions in patients should be assessed based on the severity of the condition. Typically, the occurrences of hallucinations and delusions indicate a higher severity of depression, generally moderate to severe. If diagnosed with psychotic depression, the clinical approach should involve the combined treatment using antidepressants and antipsychotic medications to address both the psychotic and depressive symptoms effectively.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Can someone with mild depression go to work?

Patients with mild depression can go to work. Those with mild depression may exhibit lighter symptoms such as mood decline, fatigue, and decreased interest. Often, patients may have difficulty sleeping; however, their social functions or most other functions are generally unaffected, with only minor impacts on their work and social activities. If patients are functionally capable of handling their jobs, depressive symptoms can be improved through behavioral training. Therefore, in clinical practice, patients with mild depression are encouraged to continue working, which further activates their energy and motivation, enhancing their positivity and initiative, and improving treatment outcomes. Additionally, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy can also achieve good therapeutic effects for patients with mild depression. Systematic and standard treatments should be continued to ultimately reach clinical recovery.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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How is depression treated?

Depression treatment in clinical settings includes self-adjustment, psychotherapy, medication, and physical therapy. Patients with mild depression can base their treatment on self-adjustment, which includes exercising, distracting attention, talking to others, etc. Psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, is recommended as the first choice of treatment. It helps patients identify automatic thoughts and reconstruct the cognitive irrationality system among other methods. Furthermore, patients with moderate to severe depression are primarily treated with medication, particularly with serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as paroxetine, sertraline, and fluoxetine, which are commonly used in clinical settings. Additionally, physical therapy mainly involves non-convulsive electroshock and transcranial magnetic stimulation as major treatment methods. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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How to explain mild depression

During the guidance process for patients with mild depression, cognitive behavioral therapy can be used. Cognitively speaking, the patient's low mood is caused by negative cognitions about themselves, the world, and the future, which we call the cognitive triad. They feel incompetent, worthless, and disliked in regards to themselves. They perceive the world as incapable or negative. Regarding the future, they feel unable to succeed and see themselves as failures, among other expressions. Therefore, the patient exhibits irrational and distorted cognitions. By observing these irrational cognitive patterns, we guide the patient to look for evidence, seek alternative explanations, make predictions, judgments, and responses, and resolve internal conflicts of thoughts through reality check methods, ultimately alleviating low moods. Additionally, behavioral methods, such as organizing a good life schedule and engaging in interesting activities, can also be used to enhance the patient's sense of pleasure and control, thereby improving their mood and ultimately achieving therapeutic effects.