The Dr Doug Lee Paradigm for diagnosing Depression Stress & Anxiety
Definition:
It is a state of
mind
caused by
having….
Patient feels…
Depression
Loss of hope &
interest
Anxiety
Fear of injury, harm or death
despair,
Stress
Unavoidable pain (physical or
emotional, real or perceived,
immediate or forthcoming)
Unachievable desires
insufficient means to achieve what
one desires (or to avoid what one
does not desire)
nothing to look
forward to,
Hopeless
Unable to find relief,
Surrounded by possibilities of injury or harm to
himself or loved ones
no desire,
Disinterested
Patient asks…
(This is the
main diagnostic
feature)
Pt says…
Couldn’t be
bothered
no question, but,
instead, make
negative
statements (see
below)
Unable to do anything about the
situation and
Unable to escape
What should I do?
Excessive amount of questions
What more can I do?
What if…? What about …?
(seek guidance)
(seek reassurance)
*If you talk to a
person for 15
minutes and he
hasn’t asked a
single question, he
IS depressed.
I can’t cope anymore
What’s the
point/use…
I can’t take this anymore
(these are the
“diagnostic
phrases”)
fear of losing what one desires (e.g. good health,
happiness)
I can’t see any
point…
I can’t bear this
It won’t work….
It’s too much…
What if…
What about…
I feel trapped
Suicide risk
Reason
Medium
Can’t be bothered
I’m stuck with …
Highest
Can’t stand the pain (physical or
psychological) because:
low
Life is too precious
What he desires is unattainable or
Think of
Caused by
Treatment
principle
Eyore
(lost of Hope, or
inability to
perceive &
appreciate joy)
Bestow Hope
If you can just
hang on, there is
light at the end of
the tunnel
What he cherishes will soon be taken
from him
Romeo & Juliet
Inability to escape or withstand Pain
& suffering (mental or physical, real
or perceived)
Piglet
Inability to overcome fear
Introduce victim to Love (universally
& broadly)
Help victim to find Faith, acquire skill, & belief in
destiny
Look beyond your own pain, find
someone else (e.g. a foster child in a
3rd world country), something else
(e.g. a hobby, a noble course) to love
e.g. Believe in the love of God, believe what will be
will be,
acquire knowledge & skill to deal with what one fears
most
e.g. learning to fly to overcome fear of flying.