What is depression?
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.
What could cause depression?
Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
- Changes in appetite, weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting.
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue.
- Feeling worthless or guilty.
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions.
How Is Depression Treated?
- Medication: Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual's depression and may factor into their treatment.
- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for treatment of mild depression.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): is a medical treatment that has been most commonly reserved for patients with severe major depression who have not responded to other treatments.
