Depression is a serious medical illness marked by feelings of profound sadness, grief, and general loss of interest and/or pleasure in daily activities. Not simply 'the blues,' sadness, or a bad mood, depressive disorders are severe and lasting, impairing the person's ability to function socially or occupationally. For people suffering from depression, life can seem an exhaustive, overwhelming struggle.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM), the feelings of depression must represent a marked change in the person's normal disposition, last for at least a two consecutive weeks, and negatively impair normal functioning. In addition, a clinical diagnosis of depressive is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Profound sadness, feelings of hopelessness, helplessness
- Loss of interest/pleasure in daily activities
- Weight gain or weight loss due to a change in appetite
- Sleep problems (sleeping too much or too little)
- Feeling restless and agitated or slow and still
- Lack of energy, feeling tired all the time
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt (warranted or unwarranted)
- Cognitive symptoms including diminished concentration, memory, ability to make decisions
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Everyone who experiences clinically significant depression will suffer from some of these symptoms, but not necessarily all of them.
There are many types of depression including major depression (or unipolar depression), dysthymia (mild or minor depression), double depression (combined major depression and dysthyma) bipolar depression (bipolar disorder, manic-depression), Postpartum depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (seasonal depression), and more. But the two main types of depression are major depression and dysthymia.
Major depression may be diagnosed if the above symptoms are present for two or more weeks and the mood represents a marked change in the person's normal behavior. In addition, functioning and quality of life must also be negatively impaired.
Dysthymia is similar to major depression but the symptoms are said to be milder in that individual functioning is less impaired compared to major depression. However, the symptoms last longer; for a standard psychiatric diagnosis of dysthymia - the symptoms of depression must persist for at least two-years. Because dysthymia often develops early in life, the sufferer may believe that it is normal to always feel depressed and that it is just a part of their personality. In fact, they may not remember a time when they were truly happy.
Just what causes depression and who is at risk is still up for debate. However, researchers point to a complex fusion of factors including genetics (depression does run in families), biochemistry (brain chemicals called neurotransmitters; serotonin and/or nor epinephrine deficiencies), personality (angry, pessimistic, low self esteem), as well as environment (poverty or exposure to abuse for example).
QUICK FACTS
Depressive disorders affect nearly 19-million American adults in any given year; women are affected at twice the rate of men.
Depression is under-diagnosed and under-treated.
Depression commonly coexists with other disorders such as anxiety and substance abuse.
Depression can strike anyone at any age.
With treatment, the vast majority of people experience significant improvement in depression symptoms.
People with depression are four times more likely to have a heart attack than those with no history of depression.
It is estimated that depression costs American business over $50-billion annually.
In a study involving 90,000 women, depression in older women was linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease.
Some studies indicate that 35 to 45% of people who take antidepressants experience complete relief from their symptoms.
GETTING HELP
Lucinda Bassett
klaq77's items • View all by klaq77 • View related items • Promote your items..
PM
(
