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Let's
Talk Facts About...
DEPRESSION
Depression is more than just feeling sad or a little
under the weather. Depression is a mental illness that
can seriously affect a person's feelings, thought patterns,
behavior and quality of life. More than 5 percent, or
15 million Americans, suffer from depression. At least
one in six people will suffer from a depressive illness
at least once in their lifetime.
Experts believe that there are many factors that cause
depression. Chemical and nerve cell disturbances within
the brain, sometimes genetically inherited, play an
important role in depression. Other factors can include
losing a relationship or a loved one, stressful life
events, another medical illness, drinking too much alcohol
or abusing drugs.
Depression has also been linked to changes in the seasons.
This type of depression, which usually occurs in the
fall, is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Researchers
believe SAD may be caused by decreased sunlight as the
days shorten.
WHAT
ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION?
Symptoms
of depression include:
- Ongoing
sad, anxious or empty feelings
- A
loss of interest in activities that normally are pleasurable,
including sex
- Appetite
and weight changes (either loss or gain)
- Sleep
problems (insomnia, early morning wakening or oversleeping)
- Irritability
- A
loss of energy and a sense of fatigue, or being "slowed
down"
- Feelings
of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness
- Feelings
of hopelessness and pessimism
- Difficulty
in concentrating, remembering and making decisions
- Thoughts
of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
- Ongoing
body aches and pains or problems with digestion that
are not caused by physical disease
HOW
IS DEPRESSION TREATED?
Depression often is treated with medication, psychotherapy
or a combination of both. People with SAD are treated
with light therapy. In the most severe cases of depression,
when the person cannot function and safety is an issue,
a brief hospital stay may be necessary.
There are many antidepressant medications that work
to restore the balance and effectiveness of chemicals
and nerve cells in the brain. These medications help
people feel and function better. Some of the newer antidepressants
(called serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs) have
fewer side effects than older kinds (called tricyclic
antidepressants, or TCAs), and they can begin to work
after two or three weeks of use.
Psychotherapy is a series of private talks with a psychiatrist
where a person discusses the feelings, thoughts and
behavior that cause difficulty. The goal of psychotherapy
is to help people understand and master their problems
so they can function better. It can help a depressed
person change negative thought or behavior patterns.
Whether caused by chemical and nerve cell imbalances,
emotional events or seasonal changes, depression can
be diagnosed and effectively treated.
FIND
MORE INFORMATION…
©
Copyright 2001 Medem™, Inc. and the American Psychiatric
Association
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