Depression
What is Depression?
At some time in our lives, most people will feel a deep sense of sadness. If this sadness or depression lasts for a long period of time, it could mean clinical depression. Clinical depression is a common and serious medical illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. Depression can result in social isolation, a lack interest in activities that were once pleasurable, a loss of appetite, a lack of sleep and anxiety.
Clinical depression is not just the "blues", which comes and goes. And it does not mean that you are a weak person. People with depressive illness cannot just "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. A person who is suffering from clinical depression can improve with the right treatment, whether it is with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two.
Types of Depression
Three of the most common types of depressive disorders are:
Major depression, which results in a disabling and often recurrent state where the person has significant difficulty functioning in most areas of life.
Dysthymia, a less severe form of depression which creates a chronic and persistent state in which the person experiences little pleasure or good feelings and expends a great deal of energy in order to function.
Bipolar Disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, is not as prevalent as other forms of depressive orders. It is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. The "low" period would look just like depression. When in the manic cycle, the individual may be overactive, over talkative, and have a great deal of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, the individual in a manic phase may feel elated, full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic sprees. Mania, left untreated, may worsen to a psychotic state.
Symptoms of Depression
A list of the major symptoms of depression is included below. Not all symptoms are experienced by everyone and the severity can vary from person to person and with different episodes. Thoughts of death or suicide can occur. If you or someone you care about is thinking or talking about suicide, you should immediately seek professional help.
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
- Lost of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
- Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
- Insomnia, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
- Restlessness, irritability
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.
Causes of Depression
Scientific research has established that depression is a biological brain disorder. However, there is no single cause of depression; psychological and environmental factors may all contribute to the development of depression.
Depression may run in families but not everyone in a particular family will develop the illness. Women are more prone to develop depression, which may point to hormonal factors.
Treatment
Physical causes for depression should always be ruled out before treatment is considered. Illnesses such as thyroid disease can mimic depression and must be treated specifically. An evaluation by your primary care physician should be completed.
If an underlying medical illness is not found, then an evaluation by a mental health professional is indicated. For milder forms of depression, psychotherapy without medication can be helpful. Depending on the assessment and the seriousness of the depression, medication may be recommended.
It is important to work with behavioral health professionals who can assess your situation and provide treatment based on your particular needs. If you are an employee, immediate family member of the employee or a student of the University of Cincinnati, Please call REACH at 556-2506 for confidential assistance with assessment, short -term counseling or referral to an appropriate treatment provider in your insurance network.
DEPRESSION SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE
- I am unable to do things I used to do.
- I feel hopeless about the future.
- I can't make decisions.
- I feel sluggish or restless.
- I am gaining or losing weight.
- I get tired for no reason.
- I am sleeping too much, or too little.
- I feel unhappy.
- I become irritable or anxious.
- I think about dying or killing myself.
If you answered yes to 5 or more of these questions, and you have felt this way every day for several weeks, there is a good chance you are suffering from depression and should see a psychiatrist or other health care professional.
If you answered yes to question 10, you should seek help immediately, regardless of your answer to any other questions.
Book List:
Lonely, Sad and Angry - Barbara Ingersol and Sam Goldstein
How to Heal Depression - Bloomfield and McWilliams
Help Me, I'm Sad: Recognizing, Treating and Preventing Childhood and Adolescent Depression - David Fassler
Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Just Be Happy - Barbara Johnson
The Feeling Good Workbook - David Burns
How to Make Your Life Work, or Why Aren't You Happy ? - Burhan
The Depression Workbook - Copeland
Web Sites
American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/depression.html
Depression fact sheet and the role of therapy in the treatment of depression
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/index.htm
Fact sheets on many topics including depression in children and adolescents
National Mental Health Association
http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm
Commonly asked questions, symptoms and online screening
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