In: Psychology
For this discussion you will take on the role of a clinical psychologist treating clients for depression. You are interested in doing research on effective treatments for a chronic form of depression called dysthymia. In the DSM-5, it is referred to as persistent depressive disorder. The DSM-5 is listed in your recommended resources, and details regarding the disorder can be found in section 300.4(F34.1).
In your review of the current materials, you find that most of the previous research on this disorder has been done using quantitative methods. Identify an aspect of this topic you feel should be studied using qualitative methods. Apply the scientific method to this research issue and develop a specific research question. Compare the characteristics and appropriate uses of various qualitative research designs and choose an appropriate qualitative design for this research question. Create a feasible research design that includes plans for the sample selection, data collection, and data analysis. Apply ethical principles to your design by explaining how this type of qualitative design may affect the participants in your study and how you will deal with sociocultural issues.
Dysthemia is a major form of depression in people characterized under DSM-5. The symptoms include lack of hopelessness, fatigue,lack of productivity and lack of desire to work in life with very low confidence and low self-esteem. It occurs between 25yrs-44 yrs. It causes changes in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain like dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.There are various medications and psychotherapy available for the different forms of depression.There are various mood elevator drugs which cause a change in the mood of person suffering from depression in society. The case study includes the statistical analysis of a group of patients suffering from depression with medication and treatment of them. The question includes the analysis of the symptoms of depression with reasons and situations causing depression in life. The scaling includes the Hamilton scaling of depression,visual analog of pain, Global impression of improvement and increase in the quality of life of people. Various antidepression drugs were given to the patients like tricyclic anti-depressants, mono-amine oxidase inhibitor drugs, sertonin reputake and inhibitor drugs and mood elevator drugs with follow up of the condition and situation of the person in life. The drugs are Duloxetine and Paroxetine for treating the patients with statisitical analysis of the condition of the patient. Montomery-ashburg depression scaling analysis was done for analyzing the appearance of manic-episodes in patients with treatment and percentage of re-occurence of symptoms in patients. The relapse points with scaling was analyzed for treatment with ability of regain the mental state back for this disease. In included the analysis of various situations and environmental factors in life. The other medications includes treating patients with St.Johns wart and herbal medications which are effective in treating these disorders in life. The other tests include the calculation of statistical values and scoring points in D30 depression scale, Tennessee self-concept life and state-trait anxiety disorder study in life. The social cultural issues include the communication and social interaction in life with interaction and friendship with friends. Maintenance of healthy relationship with colleagues in jobs with understanding of the problems in life. The proper handling of situations in life with emphasis of objectives and methology of implementing those jobs and projects according to rules and plan in life. The side effects of drugs, dose of drugs, drug-dose interaction studies and its effectivity in curing the mental weakness and mental conditions of the patients was analyzed in detail. Complete data-base records of the patients were prepared with maintenance of files with various doses of drugs and name of drugs given for treatment mentioned. The analysis of the condition of the patient is analyzed in the form of feedback form with various questions which need to be filled by the patient.