Information compiled from resources listed below.

Depression is one of the most common and treatable of all mental illnesses. One in four women and one in 10 men can expect to develop it during their lifetime.

Unfortunately, many more people needlessly suffer from clinical depression because they do not seek treatment. Many feel that depression is a personal weakness or try to cope with their symptoms alone. There are several variations of Depression, including the following:

• Clinical Depression,the depression is severe enough to require treatment.
• Major Depression is marked by more severe symptoms when an episode occurs. The more severe the depression, the more a person changes his or her normal patterns and loses interest in former activities.
• Dysthymia, recurrent or long-lasting depression. To be diagnosed with this disorder, a person must have a depressed or down mood for at least two years.
• Bipolar Disorder, depressive lows alternate with terrible highs in an often bewildering oscillation.

Characteristics

Clinical or major depression is characterized by depressed mood and/or general loss of interest that lasts more than two weeks. Clinical depression represents a change from normal functioning and the illness significantly impairs the persons afflicted with it. Clinical depression is not the result of drug effects or a general medical condition, and is not the same as normal grief. In addition to these generalities, major depression may include many other symptoms such as recurrent thoughts of death. These feelings should always be treated as an emergency and require immediate medical attention. Other characteristics include a depressed mood, insomnia, fatigue, weight loss, excessive physical complaints, and loss of interest in usual activities.

Treatment

Treatment options for depression include: medication, psychotherapy, and a combination of the two. In severe cases hospitalization may be necessary.

Treatment options for depression include: medication, psychotherapy, and a combination of the two. In severe cases hospitalization may be necessary.

Medication is used in most cases of depression, and is essential for the treatment of severe cases of depression. If an antidepressant medication is prescribed, both doctor and patient will meet regularly to discuss the patient’s progress.

Psychotherapy is another form of treatment and is very useful for mild and moderate cases of depression. Research has shown cognitive and interpersonal therapy to also be helpful for depression. Marital and family treatment may be helpful for specific situations.

Books

Depression: The Mood Disease, 1993, F.M. Mondimore: John Hopkins University Press, MD.

Depression: What Families Should Know by E.F. Shimberg: Ballantine, NY, 1992.

How to Heal Depression, 1989,H.H. Bloomfield and P McWilliams: McGraw-Hill Press, NY.

Overcoming Depression by D.Papolos and J.Papolos: HarperPerennial, NY, 1992.

Understanding Depression: A Complete Guide to Its Diagnosis and Treatment, 1993, Donald F. Klein: Oxford University Press, NY