Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common and recurrent disorder. Often depression strikes during the prime of life and is estimated to impact 12% of all men, and 20% of women at some point during their lives. Depression can be effectively treated in the majority of people but causes personal anguish in individuals and families when left untreated.
The World
Health Organization currently ranks depression as one
of the most disabling disease in the world. The devastating
consequences of under treated depression include: difficulty
in the workplace, absenteeism, problems with relationships,
marital and family discord. The untold human suffering resulting
from symptoms of depression and morbidity and mortality associated
with other diseases make it costly in both human and economic
terms.In the State of Michigan, it is estimated that 1.5 million
citizens are at risk and 500,000 in episode at any given time,
with 2.4 billion dollars in annual mental health costs (1996)
Unfortunately, many people remain undiagnosed. A recent report
of the Surgeon
General suggests that the lack of access to appropriate
mental health services is one of the most compelling public
health problems faced by the country today. Stigma, lack of
appropriate resources, reimbursement and under detection all
play a role.
If you have 5 or more of the following symptoms during a 2 week period and one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure:
1. depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g. appears tearful). ** In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood as well.
2. markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others).
3. significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
4. insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
5. psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
6. fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
7. feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).
8. diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others).
9. recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
These symptoms cause:
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significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning,
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are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism),
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and are not better accounted for by bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.
If you feel that you are suffering from depression, please contact your healthcare professional for diagnosis and care. You may also take our secure, online screening test for depression.
