 |
|
|
|
|
June 21st, 2011
10:23 AM ET
Can depression cause inability to focus?Every weekday, a CNNHealth expert doctor answers a viewer question. On Tuesdays, it's Dr. Charles Raison, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University, and an expert in the mind-body connection for health. Asked by Rachel from Southern California I am a college student, recently diagnosed with depression, and am taking steps to figure out if I have ADHD because of a tremendous inability to focus and retain information. It is almost like, when I'm trying to focus on something someone says, it slips right through me like water. I am curious to know what prospects I have of gaining my cognitive abilities back if I start taking Lexapro or other antidepressants. If these are going to impair my ability to concentrate and focus even more, then I am not sure how to weigh the cost-benefits of taking them, because I am in school. In short, are antidepressants more helpful or hurtful to my cognitive functions? Can I look forward to reversing the concentration and memory retention problems I am currently undergoing? I am very sorry to hear about your situation. College is tough enough without having to struggle with depression. When most people think of depression, the first things that come to mind are sadness, a loss of enjoyment in life, and perhaps that great dark sense of foreboding and fear that so often accompany the disorder. And while these are all very painful, and central, parts of the condition, other symptoms of depression can be at least as damaging, and you are struggling with one of those: trouble concentrating. So the first thing you should know is that the problems with focusing and remembering that you are experiencing are classic depressive symptoms and therefore may not be indicative of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). It's pretty easy to figure this one out. Did you always have trouble concentrating and remembering things? If you can clearly answer yes to this, then you may have ADHD that preceded your depression. This would not be surprising - it appears that ADHD in childhood is a risk factor for a variety of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. On the other hand, if your problems with concentration and memory only began with the start of your depression, then they are almost certainly depressive symptoms that will resolve when your depression is fully treated. Let me answer your question about Lexapro (escitalopram) by assuming that your memory and focus problems are symptoms of your depression and not related to any pre-existing ADHD. In this case the surest way to resolve these issues is to get rid of your depression, and to do so as quickly as possible. If you take Lexapro and it resolves the depression, it will also greatly improve your ability to focus and remember things. Note that this does not appear to be a direct effect of the antidepressant, but rather results when the antidepressant resolves the depression. Antidepressants don't improve memory or concentration, per se. But anything that makes your depression go away will fix your cognitive difficulties precisely because they are part of the depression. A final comment: Don't forget that antidepressants are not your only option. Many studies show that certain types of psychotherapy (including cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation and interpersonal psychotherapy) work as well as antidepressants. soundoff (948 Responses)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Next »Leave a Reply to Window Cleaning Service Montclair, Denver, CO
Next entry »Man says he robbed bank to get health care
« Previous entryHuman Factor: Allman Brother's three rules
|
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
 |
|
|
|
We need a new designation upon earned academic degrees – perhaps O.Rx. – to indicate with assistance of Medications. It was not necessary to do this centuries ago at Dartmouth, Princeton, and William & Mary where all the students were deliriously happy and focused.
Right, because suffering from clinical depression isn't bad enough – we also need to have a big, black mark on our diploma for battling through it and graduating.
Besides being insensitive, your comment is also inaccurate. First, centuries ago? Really? Yes, I'm sure that you have evidence of the happiness and focus of colonial college students (and not just some, but ALL). Second, should there also be a designation for diabetics to indicate that they earned their degree with the aid of modern medicine? Or is your criticism limited to mental illnesses? Finally, ever noticed how most people that we consider genius suffered from mental illness?
Please don't feed the trolls.
In partial defense of the seemingly indefensible, there is rampant ADHD drug abuse as "study aids" in colleges. Try googling "college adhd drugs" or looking up adderall on wikipedia (specifically the "performance-enhancing use" section). It seems some use Nootropyl (aka Piracetam) to boost academic performance as well.
I've also heard misuse is not unheard of among scientists, researchers, professors, etc. I cannot remember where I heard it so don't quote me on that one.
How on earth does one being on medication have anything to do with their ability to earn a degree? Would you rather they flunk out and wallow in their illness and live off the government? I would rather someone reconize they have a problem and get the help they need whether it is medication, therapy, or a combination of both so that they can lead a normal life and reach their goals. I have dealt with this illness since I was 15, and I know how challenging it can be to deal with life when depressed. Those who have never been there don't understand.
Dear Rachel,
ADHD is basically a problem with your prefrontal cortext–the part of your brain that is involved with concentration. When you try to concentrate your prefrontal cortext does not function as well. Depression can also cause an inability to concentrate.
If you have ADHD, the problem is many of the antidepressants work by increasing how seretonin (a brain chemical) is used in your body. This can decrease the ability of the prefrontal cortext to function.
Welbutrin is one antidepressant that does not work on seretonin. It works on dopamaine, which helps the prefrontal cortext to focus.
Depression is a tricky thing. There is more than one type and each responds to different classes of antidepressants. I would look up Dr. Daniel Amen books. I think they are right on. By the way, most of what I said is based on his books. Beware that antidepressants have a withdrawl period when they are not taken and must be gotten off very carefully. The withdrawl symptoms are similar to the problem symptoms themselves. Best to deal with both the root and the symptoms by working through things rather than just medicatioin alone. Joseph Glenmullen is a good author that talks about the dangers of medication.
I also struggle with bad ADHD and I still do, I'm 14 and I've been taking pills since 5. I don't know if its maybe the hormones, the anti-depressent I take or just the dosage of medicine not being sufficient anymore. All answers appreciated.
The symptoms described are also symptoms of hypothyroid, which causes depression, slow thinking, low energy, and a host of other problems. The challenges described don't have to be attributed to depression or ADHD; they could be from something else entirely.
You are assuming that his doctor is an idiot and did not do the check that is always done by good doctors before calling it Depression.
It is a vicious cycle for me, the medication lessens my anxiety and keeps me from focusing on my situation / unhappiness / hopelessness - but it also makes me incapable of concentrating on my job as a database application developer. Either I take the medicine and I lose the 'gloomies' (and miss my deadlines) or I skip the meds, the anxiety kicks in and I finish my assignments (for fear of being fired) – but then become the social pariah due to my 'gallows point-of-view'.
The medicine also allows me to deal with the anxieties of dating, but makes consumating that relationship troublesome due to rampant flaccidity – and if that problem gets sidestepped, the inability to climax lessens both partners' satisfaction. If only I could get all the 'good' without and equal does of the 'bad'
Maybe try a different antidepressant? Good luck to you.
D, if only it were that easy. They make you stay on meds that destroy your thoughts, ambitions and desires, and are unwilling to change them for months at a time – on top of what you have aready lost to the depression in the first place. By then, a job/family/home, or in this case an entire semester, is lost.
If you have ADD in addition to your anxiety and are taking an SSRI or SNRI, what you're experiencing is typical. The medication is boosting circulating serotonin, which helps anxiety/depression, but lowers circulating dopamine (which occurs in a "seesaw" relationship with serotonin – if one is boosted, the other goes down). Less circulating dopamine means less ability to focus, concentrate, organize, and remember. Some folks in this situation are helped by switching to Wellbutrin, which has some dopamine-boosting properties, or the addition of an ADD med to their antidepressant.
How about before jumping to ADHD drugs, the patient try treating the depression? If recently diagnosed, I doubt any therapy or treatment for the depression has had time to work.
I really believe that........hold on, let me go read the article again.
I think modern living creates an inability to focus. With the advent of so many electronic distractions it is quite easy to get sidelined or distracted. there was an article about how younger people have less attention spans... And I know it is true. Of course if you are anxious or depressed these issues will intensify. Changing diet, removing stimulants and sugar and adding a vigorous workout of at least 1 hour a day will help in addition to traditional meds and therapy.
errr... truly depressed people don't ask these questions...
exactly.. If you are actually depressed you know how screwed up your focus abilities are and there is no need to ask a doctor about it.
The answer to her question doesn't require a medical professional.... YES!!!!!
One responder repeated the "chemical imbalance" myth propagated by the drug companies. There is no proof that low serotonin has anything to do with depression. Why take antidepressants when they do no better than placebos in most studies and have side effects like weight gain and low libido. These effects might make you more depressed. Why not increase your exercise ((a proven antidepressant) and take fish oil pills ( mood enhancing qualities among other benefits) and see a therapist to help with your emotions and problem solving. Drugs should be the last resort and only taken for short periods of time due various "withdrawal syndromes" when stopping their use.
I think if anti-depressants work for some people, why not take them? Iook, if they help people who am I to say what they should take or not take?
Um.. with Celexa I'm just peachy and productive. A month without Celexa and I'm paralyzed and near suicidal. The profound shift that occurs from this drug can absolutely not be replicated by a freakin sugar pill. Thanks though.
Yes,
depression can affect one's attention......absolutely.Been there, trust me.....
Dear College: Go to a reputable psychiatrist for your medication (not a primary care physician), see a psychotherapist (one you're really comfortable with otherwise it's pointless, so keep looking if you have to) then a healthy diet, some regular exercise, adequate sleep, and family and friends for company and support (believe it or not, this is critical). Vitamin supplements can be very helpful, but be careful you're taking only what you need. For some people keeping a journal to write your heart out can be a great help also. Like your studies, this is an investment in you. Depression is serious, but treatable. You're young and in school at the start of a great adventure. You have a lot to be thankful for. Count your blessings and write them in your journal. Good luck and God bless! Been there too!
Dear College: Sorry, I didn't answer your question outright! Yes, focus is a problem. If you see a good physician (psychiatrist) for your medication he will be able to address this during your initial meeting. All the other suggestions work together to help you focus. Good luck again
Yes. Absolutely it can. I've taken celexa for years with marginal results but when I described my inability to concentrate in detail to my Dr. he reccomended trying adderall. I know the bad rap it has but the results were day and night. I can tackle whatever comes at me now.
I was going to leave a comment but I forgot the gist of the article I just read. I don't think that the antidepressants that I take are the cause, but stress and anxiety are really memory killers.
Are you breathing? Do you blink 31 times instead of 32 times a minute? Do you urinate alot? Sometimes? Not enough? Have you stopped growing? Do you eat anything other things that will obviously kill you? If you answered yes. Or no. Or maybe so to any of the following you might be depressed!
Seriously I was depressed most of college and I think environment and the behavior of others plays a huge role. Especially if your family environment is troubled compared to those outside your family you perceive as having a better upbringing. Also even if others came from a poorer background seem unphased by their experience it can cause you to doubt yourself and question how you are handling your own negative environment, which can make you more depressed for feeling unable to match up and better yourself.
Unfortunately regards of what anyone says your issues are your issues alone and you have to somehow get through it. People will only go so far to offer "help" so don't the idea that any help is good help.
You are brilliant. So beautifully expressed and insightful!
FYI some antidepressants made me forget whether or not I actually took the antidepressant. So make sure you develop a system for remembering this fact (I placed medications I had taken on the right side of my tv!). Be proactive in assessing whether antidepressants work. Sometimes it was hard to tell that I was becoming apathetic or finding it hard to find words or realizing that I was confused. It sounds strange but some antidepressants will make you too sedated to realize what's going on. Also, remember that some psychiatrists are better than others and if one pescribes medications that do not seem to be working, move on to another. Try to find a psychiatrist that is teaching in addition to practicing since they will tend to approach your depression from a combined research and experience-based approach. Remember, no doctor will canre more about resolving your depression than you will so be proactive in assessing whether you medication is working. I find that asking yourself the following questions are crucial:
1) Has my motivation improved or do I feel sedated and unmotivated all the time?
2) Do I feel well-rested after 8 hours of sleep or do I wake up feeling like I never slept? Am I sleeping for an ungodly number of hours?
3) Has my sadness or frequency of crying spells decreased?
4) Am I gaining an uncomfortable amount of weight? Remeron will imitially do this but it will go away after a month or so.
5) Am I still forgetful and having poor cognitive function?
6) If I hear a funny joke, do I actually feel the chemical response I would normally feel after hearing a funny joke? Some antidepressants will numb your emotions and you won't realize this because you will still have the automatic response of laughing but not "feel" it inside.
Ask yourself these questions after being on medication for 4-6 weeks. Again, some anti-depressants will cause sedation and complacency. As smart as I was, it took me months to realize that some antidepressants were doing this to me. I know I've mentioned a lot of bad stuff but again the Wellbutrin (150 mg) +Remeron (15 mg) and Adderall (20mg XR) (Ritalin did not work for me at all! so again keep assessing!) has brought me back to 75% of the cognitive functions I had before which is not perfect but am hoping the rest will come back after I fixed all of the other financial and academic issues my depression caused. Best of luck and don't give up on finding the right medication.
I am depressed, I know this. My main proelbm is that I have two parents in denial about my condition. I also have Aspergers, a side effect of which is having extreme difficulty in discerning my emotions. Ergo, I can't really talk about feelings because it is unbelievably frustrating to figure them out.I have also been emotionally abused my whole life, so it's next to impossible for me to actually talk to someone about my proelbms.I'm at the point of wanting to end my life. I'm so confused.
Probably a silly question but have to ask it. Can antidepressants make you feel depressed? I have been taking fluoxetine for a couple of years or more, originally described for fibrymalgia. Having gone through the menopause the doctor thought I may as well stay on them as I was feeling a bit down. I'm not sure if they are the answer though. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks.
Dear Rachel,
Sorry to hear about your situation. I understand college can be tough and challenging at times. There are lots of things you can do before you start on antidepressants. I will try to incorporate some life style changes as to counter this problem including exercise, meditation, maintaining "to do list" for every day, week and month and doing one thing at a time. Use of alarms, repeated reminders, and use of calendars can be really helpful.
In short as expert mentioned antidepressants are not the only options. Literature has shown that Behavioral therapy along with life style changes have done wonders for the people. I hope this might be helpful. Stay strong and good luck.
Hi, here you can find a great device to reduce depression: https://www.amz.one/p/reduce-depression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntYTTwPLSeA
anal comcom
http://www.N6mvKNEF5z.com/N6mvKNEF5z
Hello! We are looking for experienced people that might be interested in from working their home on a part-time basis. If you want to earn $120 a day, and you don't mind creating some short opinions up, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Simply check out:
check this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAdr5iaCbAU
Hello,
I have a similar problem I'm going through now but for me I have had this problem since I was a child and I haven't been able to concentrate on studies or simple tasks. I'll start to study and after two mins I'll be on my phone for 30 mins or on my laptop doing something else.... this has been happening since an early age, I've had bad marks in my primary school, high school, college and now university. I got kicked out of university and now I'm going through depressing and just feel like a total failure. I went to my psychiatrist and apparently to her I was completely find and didnt require any treatment, right after seeing her I just cried on my own and left home because I feel like nothing is going to save me and I have no future at this time. I don't know who to go to, where to get help.
I'm from a family of all doctors, my sister half way there too. I'm the only one who's a failure in this family right now.
Please would someone be able to kindly advice me on how to go forward, I'm struggling.
awesome article. I really loved it. The entire site is interesting. I am a finance brokers. We got folks awesome home loans and other business loan.
http://collin3899in.bsimotors.com/a-basic-overview-of-no-nonsense-programs-of-mortgage-broker-melbourne
awesome article. I totlly liked it. This entire site is great. We are a mortgage broker. We have folks great mortgages and other business finance.
http://oleg19952olx.tosaweb.com/a-background-in-identifying-elements-in-mortgage-broker-melbourne
That is the very best search system in the world
http://google.com
My unheard of entanglement contract:
http://kathleen.posts.telrock.net
My up to date website:
http://margret.forum.telrock.net
Hi,
I have attention deficit disorder, major depression and anxiety. Yes the depression made it hard to focus on anything other than my depression. When I started feeling better taking meds, I started doing creative activities and my focus on tasks I like is awesome. The key here is if your interested you will focus. I need a lot of interest in projects so I won’t be bored.
Gh Kleiner artist. On my way to the top
New web project:
http://francis.w.telrock.org
My unheard of web scheme:
http://mary.posts.telrock.net
My mod ascend:
http://hugh.w.telrock.org
Proposal page moved:
http://maria.web1.telrock.org
My chill protrude:
http://deana.forum.telrock.net
コピー時計
カルティエスーパーコピー、ブルガリコピー時計販売「18%OFF」当店はカルティエコピー、
ブルガリコピー品のレプリカ販売専門ショップです。
新作品の世界大人気ブルガリコピー、スーパーコピーカルティエ腕時計続々入荷中!
Updated contrive page:
http://allan.go.telrock.net
Excellent web site. A lot of useful info here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
https://cse.google.bg/url?q=https://goo.gl/maps/8yBowLMeca5LVcKz31
Good day! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!
http://images.google.ci/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/RapidElectricSD/
Nasze zycie jest takim, jakim uczynily je nasze mysli – Marek Aureliusz
http://www.xmc.pl
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a appropriate deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vivid clear idea
https://maps.google.com.py/url?q=https://goo.gl/maps/oopQRn2tz1yNgVmF152
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
http://maps.google.com.qa/url?q=https://imgur.com/user/acecontractors237
There are definitely a variety of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a great level to convey up. I supply the ideas above as basic inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up the place a very powerful thing will probably be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, however I am certain that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impression of only a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
https://images.google.co.ls/url?q=https://pastebin.com/u/rapidelectric
п»їhttps://bit.ly/34RxuK7 – Dating and sex without obligation in your city
п»їhttps://bit.ly/34RxuK7
– Sex without obligation in your city
@@@==
detectives privados castilla de la mancha
https://www.argadetectives.com/boadilla-del-monte.html
Przyjazń to nie tylko wspanialy prezent, lecz takze ustawiczna i systematyczna praca. E. Zacharias. You and Me Friends ?
http://www.pianino.xmc.pl
Hello. I want to ask a little something…is this a wordpress website as we are planning to be switching across to WP. In addition did you make this theme by yourself? Appreciate it.
http://6dollarmillion.xyz
https://bit.ly/2I3ZL7m – Dating and sex without obligation in your city
https://bit.ly/3pn28mx – Dating and sex without obligation in your city
MONSTERMODE 700K is a cutting-edge funnel-based app that can generate 100 commissions of up to 900+ dollars DAILY. This is made thanks to traffic conveyed on autopilot over various “viral tiers”. More details: https://bit.ly/2YfQFcC
https://bit.ly/2YfQFcC
Fantastic blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? I'm planning to start my own site soon but I'm a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I'm totally confused .. Any tips? Thanks a lot!
http://business.am-news.com/am-news/markets/news/read/40738331/
Thankfulness to my father who informed me concerning this weblog, this web site is actually awesome.
Here is my web-site ... car insurance ontario calculator
Interested in more information. How can I contact you?
http://bit.ly/3hFz4mB