Fine Line in Depression

How can we as people level measures of sadness? At what point does sadness and feelings of this nature enter into a state of depression and is there a certain point that constitutes depression? These are all questions that psychiatrists and psychologists have been asking for years. In an article from Discover magazine, the work of Jerome Wakefield and Mark Schmitz, is looked to for answers to the above questions. Wakefield and Schmitz conducted a survey in the 1980s in which they questioned approximately 20,000 adults twice a year on their current state in terms of emotion, mood, and mental health. This survey concluded that those who reported a history of depression the first time around were more likely to be depressed by the time they were surveyed again. This led to Wakefield and Schmitz  diagnosing those who were depressed as either having complicated depression or uncomplicated depression. Those who had complicated depression had certain symptoms such as depression, lasting longer than 2 months, suicidal thoughts, and feelings of worthlessness. People showing these symptoms were more likely to be diagnosed as clinically depressed whereas those who were categorized with uncomplicated depression were just thought to be experiencing normal feelings of sadness. But this article begs the question, is there a line at which you can say that someone is depressed and not just experiencing normal sadness, and are the symptoms mentioned above evidence enough of clinical depression?

These are definitely questions worth asking in the world today. With depression affecting more people than it ever has, any answers could shed some light on further treatments. It is a terrible thing for someone to go through life feeling depressed, and in many ways this has been linked to actual chemical changes in the brain. I feel that further research into possible drug treatments is important, but I also feel that clinical psychiatric help could also be the best. Treating depression would benefit not only the person but society as a whole. Morale in the workplace would be boosted, student happiness rates would go up, and because of this I believe the world would be a better place.




Today's article was chosen because I believe depression is growing problem in our nation. Much of it is caused by the pressures of society to be the best worker or the best student making the most money etc... But the more we know about depression and other psychological conditions the more we can do to prevent/ treat them. It is my hope that one day depression levels be at an all time low and the only way to get here is to have a better understanding of what is going on inside the brain and in the outside environment.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/?p=3693

One Step Closer to Preventing Strokes

Miracle Water?
If you are reading this blog, more than likely you know someone or know of someone who has suffered from a stroke. Seeing the effects of a stroke on a person is a sad sight. Often times the victim loses control of part of their body and suffer permanent brain damage. In a stroke, a blood clot blocks blood from getting to part of the brain. When this happens many neurons in the brain die because of the lack of blood. This is the cause for much of the neurological problems following a stroke. Although the stroke itself is responsible for much of the damage, the worst is done as the brain tries to recover. As the brain clot denigrates new cells release reactive oxygen species which kill cells around them. Much research is currently taking place to try and reverse the these negative effects. Doctors Mami Noda and Bruce Ransom are testing a new hydrogen enriched drinking water solution that could possibly prevent the reactive oxygen from killing brain cells. In lab test done with rats, parts of their brain's were subject to the same effects of a stroke. Rats that were given the hydrogen enriched water showed a 50 % neuron survival rate; 25% better than the rats that did not receive the enriched water. Scientist believe that the jump in neuron survival is due to the fact that the hydrogen reacts with the oxygen species in the brain in a way that does not affect the neurological activity of the brain. Although this is promising research, it has not yet been tested in humans.

Importance
Strokes are an extremely debilitating condition; victims experience extreme discomfort which can change the rest of their lives. Research such as Ransom and Noda's could lead to preventative treatments or even rehabilitation treatments for strokes. When dealing with a condition like a stroke, any possible helpful research needs to be taken seriously and invested in. If it is possible to prevent something as terrible as a stroke from happening to people, we need to take every step to continue in the efforts of the researchers.

Personal Reflection
Being a Psychology major, the human brain is something I am very interested in. I feel as if we as humans have only scratched the surface of everything our brains do for us and are capable of. I believe that many significant discoveries about the brain are still in store for the future. That is why I am so adamant about research such as Ransom and Noda's. An overall better understanding of the brain is necessary for future breakthroughs whether be in brain function, rehabilitation, or overall structure.

http://discovermagazine.com/2013/march/6-water-cure-stroke

Conserving African Elephants

Elephant Populations in Africa on the Decline

The Problem
For years the continent of Africa has been the leading exporter of ivory goods for the world. This massive trade though, comes at the consequence of the source for this good; African Elephants. This trade also accounts for many illegal activities and poaching in Africa because the killing of elephants is prohibited in most of the continent. Over the past few decades Africa has been experiencing a drop in the elephant population, but biologist have not known the severity until recently.  In an article from Sciencemag.org writer Sarah Williams brings to light the fact that elephant populations have dropped a staggering 62 % in the past ten years. To get this statistic, wildlife biologist Fiona Maisels of the Wildlife Conservation Society and a team of researchers led an expedition to collect 80 surveys of the animal in different African locations. It was the first time an effort as broad and as organized as this has been done on the animal in its conservation history. With the new data collected, the biologist hope African officials realize the seriousness of the elephants situation, and have faith that they will implement better regulation and enforcement of conservation laws. As large as the drop in population seems, the researchers suggest the number may even be more severe. Many surveys were taken in protected areas where elephants often flee to protect themselves from human risks. This could lead to measurements that actually overestimate elephant populations in an area.



Why is this a Problem?
Wildlife conservation is always a problem in today's world of continued industrialization and constant human greed. We as humans often fail to realize the implications of actions and consequences that our ways of living can have on the environment. The case of the elephant in Africa is especially problematic because of Africa's disunity as a continent and differences from place to place in laws and regulations. If environmental groups across the world don't address wildlife agencies and their enforcement of protection laws, then the African Elephant could be facing extinction. One way that I believe we could increase the population of elephants in Africa, is increase the number of protected areas for wildlife . Along with this there needs to be stricter enforcement of conservation law and major penalties for those who chose to break it. Poachers need to be punished to the extent that the reward of the ivory trade is not worth the risk of being caught. Its time for humans to begin taking responsibility for the world we have been blessed with and stop being responsible for the depletion of its resources and wildlife.

Why This Article
I chose this article this week because recently I have been learning a lot about human biology and that pertaining to health and the brain, but have failed to research that of wildlife and environmental biology. I like this article because it deals with the aspects of wildlife and the environment and pertains to a current issue in the world. I have always been passionate about the Earth that God has given us and believe that we should respect and care for it. Wildlife biologist have a daunting task before them to continue to educate the world on ways to conserve as well as reversing the negative effects humans have had on the Earth.

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2013/03/african-forest-elephant-populati.html