Most people assume that someone who suffers depression in their teenage years and/or younger years would not continue to suffer after 25 years. This is assumption is not correct. A study performed by researchers at the University of Alabama revealed that depression found in teenagers continued to cling to them in their later years, well into middle-age. The study watched a total of 341 people for 25 years and followed each of their couple relationships. The symptoms of depression and signs of anger issues were expressed in the love lives of the studied people. Researchers surveyed 178 women and 163 men from 18-25 years old, then again at 32 and 45 years old, to observe their stress levels and quality of their relationships. The study found that mental health does actually negatively effect a person's relationships and could lead to unhealthy and unfortunate events in the future, including domestic violence and/or divorce. Scientists suggest for people who have struggled through mental illness to recognize their past and realize it follows them into their future. This will help previously mentally ill people overcome their illness and learn to life life to the fullest.
Question to readers:
Why does depression and other mental illness continue to negatively effect someone's life, even after he/she feels like they've overcome it?
Nature of Science Themes:
- Science is collaborative
- Science is based on evidence
- Science is subject to debate
- Role of credibility
- Role of skeptism
- Importance of repeatability
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140507132705.htm
I'm glad you chose this article because there are a lot of misconceptions about mental illness. Mental health is becoming a pressing issue in today's society, especially depression and anxiety. This study shows that depression doesn't just last a few years, it can last a lifetime, with repercussions emotionally and physically. This University of Alabama study proves that depression isn't just 'a passing phase', it is a lifetime struggle, contrary to some beliefs. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, the second highest medical cause of disability will be depression, second only to HIV/AIDS. Our society needs to evaluate how we treat people with mental illnesses, or else suffer the consequences.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic and I think a very common misconception that a mental health condition just simply goes away. I think it would be interesting to see if different mental health conditions affect people the same amount in the later years of their life. Another thing that would be interesting to explore would be how various treatments during the teen years affect the person differently in the later years.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this study addresses some misconceptions about mental illness. So many people think that once it's done it's done, when really it isn't. I think that one of the main reasons mental illnesses follow people into the rest of their lives is because sometimes they go untreated for so long that the person suffering from this mental illness starts to think that this is what normal is. After it is diagnosed and treated, they may start to slip back into that mental illness just because they don't realize that it's getting bad again because it just feels like how they perceived normal to be.
ReplyDeleteThis article reminded me about long term effects of concussions. Concussions are fairly common in contact sports; they occur when the head is impacted or moved too fast. The brain shifts and forcefully hits the skull. Even though these seem to go away under the right care, they can still lead to attention problems years later, even though there is no more physical damage to the brain. I got my information from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/256518.php
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