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<p>Depression and dental health<br>Lieutenant Randy Reese, MSC, USNR<br><br>Purpose<br>Major depression is a common disorder that has been demonstrated to affect physical as well as mental health. Recent research is demonstrating links between depression and dental health. This update will provide an introduction to and summary of recent literature.<br><br>Depression is a psychiatric disorder in which negative affect, depressed mood, disturbed thoughts, and altered behaviors persist for a minimum of two weeks, and potentially for more protracted periods. Lifetime prevalence rates for major depressive disorder (MDD) are 10% to 25% for women and 5% to 12% for men, whereas point prevalence rates are 5% to 9% for women and 2% to 3% for men. However, prevalence in primary care settings has been found to range from 6.6% to 13.5%.<br><br>MDD is twice as common in adolescent and adult females as in adolescent and adult males with rates being higher for both sexes in the 25 to 44 year-old group, and being lower for both sexes over age 65.<br><br>The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition defines MDD as the presence of five or more of the following symptoms present for at least a two week period, representing a change from previous functioning, with at least one symptom being depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure:<br>▪Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day<br>▪Diminished interest or pleasure in most activities most of the day<br>▪Significant weight change or change in appetite<br>▪Sleep disturbance<br>▪Psychomotor agitation or retardation<br>▪Fatigue or loss of energy<br>▪Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt<br>▪Diminished ability to think or concentrate<br>▪Recurrent thoughts of death or dying<br><br>Treatment for MDD usually includes pharmacological or psychotherapeutic intervention, or both. Numerous medications are prescribed to treat depression, each with varying side effects. Friedlander and Mahler provide a concise summary of classes of antidepressants and their common side effects, with implications for dental management.
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<br>Subjects: Depressive Disorder ; mental health</div>
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U.S. Navy. Naval Postgraduate Dental School</div>
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