Depression

Depression is defined as a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death. (Depression, 2006, website) Depression is a mood disorder that causes you to feel these symptoms for an extended period of time. It is more than just temporary feelings of grief or low energy; depression can have a significant impact on your enjoyment of life, work, health, and the people you care about and those who care about you.

Depression is generally diagnosed by asking the patient questions such as: have you have ever experienced a period of abnormal happiness, irritability, or intense energy that lasts 4 days or more, manic episodes, or milder hypo-manic episodes. Along with depression, these symptoms could mean that you have bipolar disorder. Some types of antidepressant medications can worsen symptoms of bipolar disorder, so it is important to diagnose your symptoms accurately. (Joyce Denman, 2006, Lecture)

Depression may be triggered by stressful life events, other illnesses, certain drugs or medications, or inherited traits. Although causes of depression are not entirely understood, scientists know it is linked to an imbalance in brain chemistry. Once the imbalance is corrected, the symptoms of depression generally improve. Depression affects every person differently. Some feel down for extended periods of time; for others the feelings of depression come and go. Those that tend to have short episodes of mild depression may be able to continue to work and take care of daily activities. In severe cases, depression can cause people to become incapable of communicating, unable to do routine activities, or suicidal. (Teen Depression, 2005, website)

People with depression may be reluctant to seek help because they feel that it is a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw or that they should be able to "pull out of it" on their own. We now know that depression, like other medical conditions, has a chemical and biological basis. Treatment for depression is safe and usually effective even for severely depressed people. Depression is usually treated with professional counseling or an antidepressant medication. Often a combination of the two is most effective. People with depression usually can be treated as outpatients, but in severe cases a period of hospitalization may be necessary. There are also