The channel 5 reality show is overwhelmed by the controversy over the bullying of some competitors towards their sick colleague. But it had the advantage of bringing a hot topic to prime time. Indeed, a real pathology. Which can be defeated. As Professor di Giannantonio explains

It's a storm at Big Brother Vip

Big Brother Vip in the storm, after the voluntary exit of Marco Bellavia, the former conductor of Bim bum bam, now 57 years old, who suffers from depression. Bellavia had left the reality show after speaking of the 'mental pain' experienced in his stay in the House. Moreover, the competitor had been targeted by the comments of other VIP tenants, including Ginevra Lamborghini, expelled from the program for her words. But what is depression? We asked Massimo di Giannantonio, president of the Italian Society of Psychiatry.

Totti between football and Noemi. And Ilary teases him so Totti between football and Noemi. And Ilary teases him like this

Marco Bellavia depressed and bullied in the house of Big Brother vip – guard

Professor di Giannantonio, what is depression? «Depression is a real disease that attacks, for pathological causes, the three spheres that make possible the functioning of the human mind: the biological, the psychological and the socio-environmental part. The mind works when these three 'pieces' work together, offering a sense of well-being to the person. Like all illnesses, depression has varying degrees of severity. There are mild or so-called reactive depressions (following mourning, frustrations, 'existential' incidents); medium depressions; severe or very severe depression. The most dramatic level is that of suicide. The diagnosis should be made in a short time to start therapies as soon as possible, resolve the symptoms without complications and avoid relapses. Unfortunately, however, in some cases even six years pass from the onset of a depressive picture to the diagnosis of the psychiatrist specialist'.

What are the alarm bells? «The most important symptoms are the decrease in mood and anhedonia, or the lack of pleasure in daily activities that were previously normal (for example: going to see shows, watching TV, playing your favorite sport, get together with family or friends). You are less able to manage your daily life: social relationships break down, you find it hard to do what you did before, your appetite changes (either you look for more food, or you eat much less), you feel useless and incapable, the sleep/wake rhythm is altered. If, on the other hand, we are sad for a few days, it does not mean that we are depressed'.

Expelled and eliminated from Big Brother Vip for the Bellavia case – guard

What should we do if a family member suffers from it? «We have to tell him/her not to be frightened, explaining that we are dealing with one of the diseases that can attack the central nervous system which, however, can be diagnosed and treated very well. The percentage of chances of getting out of it without relapses is very high especially when the depression is diagnosed in time and when the right psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions are done'.

How is it treated? “Psychiatric medical science has made great strides in the last 30 years. In the early 1950s, the first antidepressant drugs were discovered. Today we have molecules available that are increasingly effective and increasingly devoid of unpleasant side effects. For each type of patient, the most suitable therapy for his symptoms is chosen. In the case of diagnosis with the two prevalent symptoms (reduction of mood and anhedonia), the pharmacological intervention must be foreseen in correlation with other interventions such as supportive psychotherapy. When depression predominantly affects the neurobiological aspects - loss of sleep, appetite, muscle strength - a treatment of antidepressant molecules that act on these aspects will be chosen. When it mainly attacks the aspects of behavior and reflection, however, molecules will be chosen that have a greater effect on mood and relational capacity'.

Source: oggi.it