Hello doctor, My cousin sister (age 25 years) is pursuing her studies and resides in a metro city. She lives alone. Often she feels irritated, lonely, and emotionally unstable. She also thinks that there is nothing to look forward to in her life, and she has no future. She is unable to concentrate on her studies. Sometimes she is in a good mood; however, that does not last long. What may be the reason? Please explain and suggest some remedial action.
Hi. I read your query and understand your concerns. From the available description, it is almost clear that she is suffering from depression. Depression is a common psychiatric disorder which occurs in 10 to 20 % of women and about 8 to 10% of men in their lifetime. Having said this, it is caused by multiple factors and treatment varies according to the cause. The most common is classical or unipolar depression. The second most common is bipolar disorder, which is characterized by both depression and manic episodes. The third possibility for her state is medical conditions induced depression, and it is also possible that she might have had a psychiatric disorder in the past and depression developed as a part of it. Whatever might be the cause, before we start treatment, we need to identify it. We also need to consider family history and support available for her. The third most important thing for treatment is to consider the severity of episodes. To get all these details, you need to give confidence to your cousin sister and consult a psychiatrist.