Depression

If you’re one of the more than 14.8 million American adults who experiences major depression, you may feel so bad that you can’t get out of bed, be around the people you love or participate in activities that you usually enjoy. Actually, there are more than 50 different symptoms of major depression, ranging from the well-known—crying and sadness—to those you might never associate with depression, such as anger, workaholism and back pain. Depression is a disease that affects every aspect of a person’s life, not just mood, says Johns Hopkins expert People who are depressed are far more likely to have other chronic medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, back problems, arthritis, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and to have worse outcomes. Untreated depression can even affect your Depression is not just debilitating; it can be deadly. An estimated one out of five people with depression will attempt suicide at some point. Causes and Risk Factors Depression is not a mood you can just get over. It is a disease in which the brain ceases to register pleasurable activities, says Angelino. Indeed, MRI studies with depressed people have found changes in the parts of the brain that play a significant role in depression. Women are about twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. You’re also more likely to develop depression if you are between ages 45 and 64, nonwhite, or divorced, and if you never graduated high school, can’t work or are unemployed, and don...

Depression affects an estimated 8% of persons in the United States and accounts for more than $210 billion in health care costs annually. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Academy of Family Physicians recommend screening for depression in the general adult population. Additionally, the USPSTF recommends screening children and adolescents 12 to 18 years of age for major depressive disorder. All screening should be implemented with adequate systems in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate follow-up. The two-item and nine-item Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQs) are commonly used validated screening tools. The PHQ-2 has sensitivity comparable with the PHQ-9 in most populations; however, the specificity of the PHQ-9 ranges from 91% to 94%, compared with 78% to 92% for the PHQ-2. If the PHQ-2 is positive for depression, the PHQ-9 or a clinical interview should be administered. Screening all postpartum women for depression is recommended by the USPSTF, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Women should be screened for depression at least once during the perinatal period using the PHQ-2, PHQ-9, or Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. In older adults, the Geriatric Depression Scale is also an appropriate screening tool for depression. If screening is positive for possible depression, the diagnosis should be confirmed using Diagn...

No one is immune to depression. It can occur in those who are susceptible by virtue of family history or biology; chronic poverty, disease, or deprivation; or childhood experience that resets reactivity of the nervous system so that it overresponds to stress. It can settle in after a series of upsets or losses. But it can also catch people off guard. Maintaining mental health is a task everyone faces. Just as most people have learned that it takes some work to stay in physical shape, so does mental health require some attention and upkeep. Most of us live fast lives in which insults and injuries accrue that need to be redressed. We may have a clever array of defenses that keep us from knowing what is roiling us below the surface—until it saps all our mental and even physical energy and starts to shut down our ability to function. As with physical health, maintaining mental health and building resilience may be more of a challenge for some than for others. But there are many measures that anyone can take to avoid or even reverse the shutdown cycle that depression imposes. There are situations and experiences that raise a person’s risk of depression. Chief among them are abusive or chronically conflicted relationships, loss of a relationship or job or anything of significance, and major setbacks or disappointments in any realm of life. While the death of a spouse or the loss of a job may not be under anyone’s control, such situations can be met with the recognition that extr...

Trying to beat depression? Small daily efforts can be more effective than sweeping changes. Depression isn’t something you’re able to turn off like a switch. It doesn’t go away just because someone tells you to “toughen up” or because you had a moment of laughter during the day. When you live with When these moments feel like an eternity, there are ways you can loosen the hold depression has on daily life. Beating depression and coping with depression aren’t the same. While there are many daily tips and tricks to cope with depression, “beating” depression implies a long-term resolution of symptoms. Based on the volumes of research behind depression causes, daily goals may have the most beneficial impact if they: • promote a sense of meaning, accomplishment, or mastery • increase the frequency of positive emotions • help you identify self-defeating or Keeping these criteria in mind, you can start to develop some daily routines to help you beat depression. The weight of an obligation is something that can make a task feel impossible when you live with depression. When you have to do something, the pressure can make you feel like you’re stuck in concrete. Depression can stall you from doing things that might make a difference in the long term, like visiting supportive friends and family. Reminders on your phone, computer, or tablet, can help refocus your attention on activities you might otherwise pass by. Writing these reminders in goal-form can also remind you it’s somethin...

What Is Depression? Almost all of us feel low sometimes, usually because of a disturbing or difficult event in our lives. But ongoing sadness or despair can be caused by depression, a serious condition that warrants treatment. Talking to your primary care doctor can be a good place to start. Your doctor can screen you for However, most people first experience depression when they are in their early thirties, and depression is particularly rife among older adults. Depression is not simply a normal reaction to the challenges of growing older, such as the death of a spouse or friends and the physical limitations of age, but is a medical condition without a known cause. About 15% of women experience postpartum depression after What Are the Different Types of Depression? • Depressive reaction. A less-severe and often temporary depression that arises from a specific life situation. In modern diagnostic language, a depressive reaction to a specific life stress is technically called a "stress response syndrome" (formerly known as an " • Major depression, which affects more than 16% of U.S. adults over a lifetime, often appears spontaneously and is seemingly unprovoked, or it can begin as a depressive reaction following a loss, trauma, or other significant stressful event. In people who are biologically predisposed to developing a depressive illness, the initial depressive reaction can intensify and evolve into a clinically full-blown depressive episode. The depressive episode may ...

"The grey drizzle of horror," author William Styron memorably called depression. The mood disorder may descend seemingly out of the blue, or it may come on the heels of a defeat or personal loss, producing persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from the disorder. And the incidence of the disorder is increasing everywhere. Americans are highly concerned with Depression comes in forms ranging from major depression to dysthymia and seasonal affective disorder. Depressive episodes are also a feature of Depression is a complex condition, involving many systems of the body, including the immune system, either as cause or effect. It disrupts sleep and it interferes with Because of its complexity, a full understanding of depression has been elusive. There is mounting evidence that depression may actually be a necessary defense strategy of the body, a kind of shutdown or Researchers have some evidence that depression susceptibility is related to Even in the most severe cases, depression is highly treatable. The condition is often cyclical, and early treatment may prevent or forestall recurrent episodes. Many studies show that the most effective treatment is For more on causes, symptoms, and treatments of depressive disorders, see our There is no single known cause of depression. Rather, it ...

What Is Depression? Most people feel sad or depressed at times. It’s a normal reaction to loss or life's challenges. But when intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- lasts for many days to weeks and keeps you from living your life, it may be something more than sadness. You could have Is Depression Curable? There’s no cure for depression. Your symptoms may go away over time, but the condition won’t. But with care and treatment, you can reach remission and enjoy a long, healthy life. Depression Symptoms According to the DSM-5, a manual doctors use to diagnose mental disorders, you have • Your mood is depressed for most of the day, especially in the morning. • You feel • You feel worthless or guilty almost every day. • You feel hopeless or pessimistic. • You have a hard time focusing, remembering details, and making decisions. • You can’t sleep, or you • You have almost no interest or pleasure in many activities nearly every day. • You think often about death or • You feel restless or slowed down. • You’ve lost or gained You may also: • Feel cranky and restless • Lose pleasure in life • Overeat or stop feeling hungry • Have aches, pains, • Have sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings While these symptoms are common, not everyone with depression will have the same ones. How severe they are, how often they happen, and how long they last can vary. Your symptoms may also happen in patterns. For example, depression may come with a change in seasons (a ...

Key points • The common wisdom is that depression starts in the mind with distorted thinking, leading to "psychosomatic" symptoms. • Some researchers now see depression as stemming from an immobilization response—a biological defense against stress. • When one gets stuck in an immobilization response indefinitely due to ongoing threat, the body and brain develop symptoms known as depression. When we think of depression as irrational and unnecessary suffering, we stigmatize people and rob them of hope. But when we begin to understand that depression, at least initially, happens for a good reason we lift the Laura believes that depression saved her life. Most of the time her father only hurt her with words, but it was when she stood up to him that Laura’s dad got dangerous. That’s when he’d get that vicious look in his eyes. More than once his violence had put Laura’s life at risk. Laura’s father was so perceptive, that he could tell when she felt rebellious on the inside even when she was hiding it. And he punished her for those feelings. It was the depression that helped Laura survive. Depression kept her head down, kept her from resisting, helped her accept the unacceptable. Depression numbed her rebellious feelings. Laura grew up at a time where there was no one to tell, nowhere for her to get help outside her home. Her only strategy was to survive in place. And she did. Looking back, Laura does not regret her Laura’s story is stark. It’s ugly. And it helps us understand...

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. It’s also fairly common. Data from the Though depression and grief share some features, depression is In grief, positive emotions and happy memories of the deceased typically accompany feelings of emotional pain. In major depressive disorder, the feelings of sadness are constant. People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions. Conditions that can get worse due to depression include: • • • • • • It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But if you’re feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression. Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling “blue.” Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect your mood and others affect your body. Symptoms may also be ongoing or come and go. General signs and symptoms Not everyone with depression will experience the same symptoms. Symptoms can vary in severity, how often they happen, and how long they last. If you experience some of the following signs and • feeling sad, • feeling h...