DEPRESSION
Often referred to as depression, depressive disorder
is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal
weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with
a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get
better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or
years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer
from depression. What is a Depressive Disorder?
A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body,
mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps,
the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about
things.
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
that were once enjoyed, including sex
- Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
- Restlessness, irritability
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment,
such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
What Causes Depression?
Some types of depression run in families, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can be inherited. This seems to be the case with bipolar disorder. Studies of families in which members of each generation develop bipolar disorder found that those with the illness have a somewhat different genetic makeup than those who do not get ill.
However, the reverse is not true: Not everybody with the genetic makeup that causes vulnerability to bipolar disorder will have the illness. Apparently additional factors, possibly stresses at home, work, or school, are involved in its onset.
What is the Treatment for Depression?
Treatment choice will depend on the outcome of the evaluation. There are a variety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to treat depressive disorders. Some people with milder forms may do well with psychotherapy alone. People with moderate to severe depression most often benefit from antidepressants. Most do best with combined treatment: medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life's problems, including depression. Depending on the patient's diagnosis and severity of symptoms, the therapist may prescribe medication and/or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for depression.
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