EBP paper- legal and ethical issues in nursing

Introduction Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mental health condition characterized by a wide range of symptoms including depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities, weight changes, sleep disturbances, and a host of others. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that “MDD affects more than 16.1 million American adults, or about 6.7% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year” (“Facts & Statistics,” n.d.). In addition to the psychological implications, MDD can also have serious physiological consequences. According to Healthy People 2020, “Mental health disorders also have a serious impact on physical health and are associated with the prevalence, progression, and outcome of some of today’s most pressing chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer” (“Mental Health,” n.d.). Although the prevalence in the US population is high, there are a number of treatment options available including medications, psychotherapy, support groups and brain stimulation therapies, that aid in improving symptoms of individuals with MDD. In addition to these mainstream treatments, are complementary treatment options. Complementary treatment is the “name for health care practices that traditionally have not been part of conventional medicine” (“Integrative medicine,” 2020). Some examples of complementary treatment include “acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy, reiki, and yoga” (Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Complementary treatment can be used in conjunction with conventional medicine to treat depressive disorders more effectively