| Depression |
| Depression is a treatable illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You can’t make yourself well by trying to "snap out of it." Although it can run in families, you can’t catch it from someone else. The direct causes of the illness are unclear, however it is known that body chemistry can bring on a depressive disorder, due to experiencing a traumatic event, hormonal changes, altered health habits, the presence of another illness or substance abuse. |
 |
| Symptoms of Depression Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety Pessimism, indifference Loss of energy, persistent lethargy Feelings of guilt, worthlessness Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal Unexplained aches and pains Recurring thoughts of death or suicide If you experience five or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks or if any of these symptoms interfere with work or family activities, consult with your doctor for a thorough evaluation. This should include a complete physical exam (some other illnesses can cause these symptoms) open and honest about how you are feeling and and a review of your family’s history. You cannot diagnose yourself and you cannot be diagnosed by a friend or family member. Only a properly trained health professional can determine if you have depression. An online self-assessment can help you communicate your symptoms to your health care professional. |
|
| Research has identified two major types of depression People who have major depressive disorder have had at least one major depressive episode – five or more symptoms for at least a two-week period. For some people, this disorder is recurrent, which means they may experience episodes every so often – once a month, once a year, or several times throughout their lives. Dysthymia is a chronic, moderate type of depression. People with dysthymia usually suffer from poor appetite or overeating, insomnia or oversleeping, and low energy or fatigue. People with dysthymia are often unaware that they have an illness because their functioning is usually not greatly impaired. They go to work and mange their lives, but are frequently irritable and often complaining about stress. People of all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes get depression. Although it can occur at any age, depression frequently develops between the ages of 25 and 44. If you have depression, you are not alone. Approximately 20 million adult Americans experience depression every day. |
| Depression in Children As many as one in 33 children and one in eight adolescents has depression. If your child has five or more symptoms for at least two weeks or if they interfere with his or her daily activities (e.g., going to school, playing with friends), then your child may be clinically depressed. Other warning signs of childhood depression include headaches, frequent absences from school, social isolation and reckless behavior. Poor parenting does not cause childhood depression. It may have many origins – genetics, biochemistry and a variety of other factors. Fortunately, treatment for childhood depression is highly effective. If you think your child may suffer from depression, ask your pediatrician to do a screening or for a referral to a health professional experienced in dealing with depression in children. Research is now indicating that early diagnosis and treatment might lessen future depressive episodes. The FDA has just released a public health advisory on the reports of suicidality in pediatric patients being treated with antidepressant medications for major depressive disorder. Click here to read the advisory, http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/mdd.htm. |
| Depression in Late Life Depression is not a normal part of aging. Of the 32 million Americans over the age of 65, nearly five million experience serious symptoms of depression and one million suffer from depression. Elderly people with untreated depression are more likely to have worse outcomes from treatment of co-existing medical illnesses (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, heart disease). Untreated depression is the most common psychiatric disorder and the leading cause of suicide in the elderly. (top) |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|