- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
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Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Dr. Gabrielle Melin, board certified in general psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, is looking for ways to empower patients and families dealing with chronic mental illness. She encourages patients to commit to working together with their physicians and health care teams.
Dr. Melin completed medical school at the University of Minnesota. She completed both her psychiatry residency and consultation-liaison fellowship at Mayo Clinic before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 2001. She is medical director of Mayo Clinic Psychiatry Emergency Services in Rochester, Minn. She has special interests in emergency psychiatry, adult psychiatry and addiction psychiatry.
"Instilling hope is one of the most important things we can do for patients and families. Mental illness can be chronic and significantly impacts lives. Our goal is to provide the best treatment and education so that patients can manage their symptoms more effectively," she said.
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Depression blog
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Jan. 10, 2009
Dysthymia treatment can help reduce depression symptoms
By Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
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Dysthymia is a chronic form of depression that lasts at least two years. Dysthymia symptoms can include depressed mood, appetite changes, sleep problems, concentration difficulties, poor energy, and feelings of worthlessness, pessimism or irritability. The symptoms are not as intense as severe depression symptoms. Still, dysthymia can cause significant problems in one's life.
People struggling with dysthymia are at risk for developing major depression, substance abuse problems and heart disease. Dysthymia tends to develop prior to the age of 20. Women having double the risk men do. Because it starts early on, you may have gotten used to your symptoms and just assumed you had to put up with them.
But don't get discouraged. We are fortunate to have good treatments, including medication, for many forms of depression, including dysthymia. A recent Dartmouth College study that looked at problem solving therapy and the use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such a Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa or Lexapro showed good results.
When you get depressed, your thoughts can be distorted. The longer you've suffered from depression, the more ingrained your thought patterns are. Talk therapy can help to reverse these negative thinking patterns. As always, see your health care provider for accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, medical work up. And, if you've had any experience with dysthymia, please share your story.
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