TOMSK, Jun 23 – RIA Tomsk. TSU student Ursula Tanabasova get a medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences for studying depression among the peoples of Siberia; she studied the influence of national culture on the development of disease for five years. How the project can help in the treatment of one of the most common mental disorders – in the material of RIA Tomsk.
As it is reported on the website the World Health Organization (WHO) website, more than 300 million people suffer from depression. It is curable, but so far about 50% of serious depressive states remain untreated. According to experts, by 2020 the depression will be regarded as one of the leading causes of disability of the population.
Depression causes mental suffering, affects a person’s ability to perform daily activities.
Unexplored Siberia
Tanabasova says that, according to medical statistics, in Siberia, the death rate from suicides against the background of depression is 41.5 cases per 100 thousand population. In Buryatia, this figure is 73.3, in the Republic of Sakha – 48.3.
“Where the indigenous population lives, the level of suicides is 150-180 per 100 thousand population. Among the residents of the northern districts of the Tomsk region - 80 cases per 100 thousand people, among them the Narym Selkup dominate in percentage terms”, – says the young scientist referring to statistical data.
"The project "The influence of culture on the subjective experience of depression and the expression of its signs on the example of representatives of the peoples of Siberia" under the guidance of the doctor of psychological sciences Tatiana Bokhan began in 2014", – tells Tanabasova.
Altaians, Tuvinians, Yakuts, Itelmens, Chukchi, Koryaks, Russians with affective disorders and mental disorders with comorbid depression syndrome (several related chronic diseases) became the participants of the project. The total selection was 266 people.
From loneliness to angedoniya
The main result of the study of a TSU student – is the first of its kind typology of experiencing and manifesting symptoms of depression among members of representatives of ethnic groups of Siberia. For example, it was found that a common probable symptom of depression in all groups except the Koryaks, – is a feeling of loneliness. For clinical groups of Altaians, Tuvinians and Yakuts, a feeling of depression is also characteristic.
"The lack of hope for the future is characteristic of residents of the Kamchatka Territory and Tuvinians. Reduced speech communication - is for Altaians, Yakuts, Itelmens and Chukchis. A sense of longing for lack of social support and a decrease in vitality – for Altaians and Yakuts", – says the student.
But anhedonia (decrease or loss of the ability to have fun) and a feeling of sadness are characteristic of Altaians and Tuvinians.
“Specific for the majority of Altaian respondents are sleep disturbances and diminished activity, for Tuvinians - reduced self-esteem, tearfulness; for Koryaks - decrease in appetite, a feeling that they are disliked”, – she adds.
For early diagnosis
"The project is interesting for me because it is an insufficiently studied topic, where you do not know what to expect from the results, what they will be. At the same time, the topic is extremely relevant and requires attention. I was born in the Altai Republic, and when I came to study in Tomsk I realized that the culture still makes a significant contribution to the psychological component", – says the student.
According to her, the project has practical significance: identifying patterns of cultural influence on depression in Siberia can help in developing methods for early detection of risk and psychological prevention of depression, creating optimal treatment methods.