Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Depression and thermal treatments:
a case report
Cachapuz I (1) , Santos C (1) , Silva V (1) , Pinheiro J (1) , Cantista P (1)
(1) Termas de São Jorge. Santa Maria da Feira. Portugal
cachapz.isabel@gmail.com
Introduction and Objectives
Depression is the name assigned to a series of behavioural, emotional and
thought changes. When these changes become chronicle they significantly harm
different areas of a person’s life. The depressed person sees the world differently
and expresses his emotions differently. According to the World Health Organisation,
Depression is a widely prevalent disease in the world.
Materials and Methods
Case description: Female, 46 years-old, married, one son with 22 years-old. No
relevant personal background. In June 2011 her father died suddenly. She started to
reveal sadness, lack of interest in activities she used to appreciate, relevant weight
loss (12kg in 4 months), insomnia, devaluation feelings, relevant asthenia and
anorexia, difficulty concentrating and generalized pain that did not disappear with
analgesics. She went to a psychiatrist that diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder.
She was medicated with antidepressants that she could not specify. She went on a
sick leave and was forbidden to go out alone and to drive. Since she revealed no
clinical improvements, a relative that used to go to Termas de São Jorge (São Jorge
Thermal Baths -TSJ), suggested her doing a thermal treatment.
Results
She went to TSJ (medical consultation) on the 29th October 2011. She was thin,
pale, hypotonic and revealed severe apathy and sleepiness. She could not walk by
herself and was helped by her sister. Several symptoms strongly influenced her
everyday life.She was clinically and physically evaluated and was prescribed a 21
days treatment that consisted of: Gymnasium, aerobaths and full body manual
massage.At the gymnasium the first main aims were: walk training and muscles
strengthening.After this period of thermal treatment she continued the same treatment
thrice a week until the end of 2011. By end 2011 she had a medical consultation
at TSJ and she revealed major improvements. She continued doing stronger
muscular strengthening exercises at the gymnasium and more intensive walk training.
In December 2012 she changed to a different psychiatrist and the antidepressant
medication was reduced. In 2012 she went to TSJ again. She arrived by herself
for medical consultation and she looked stronger and livelier. She had gained 3kg.
Her emotional and physical symptoms had improved. Medical evaluation at TSJ
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 352-353
352
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4