Understanding Clinical Depression

What is depression?

Depression is not the same as a short-term feeling of sadness or emptiness. It’s more than a temporary case of “the blues”.
Depression is a brain disorder, caused by abnormalities in the levels of neurochemicals in the brain.
Clinical depression, also called major depressive disorder (MDD), is a serious, long-term illness that can affect a person’s daily functioning and relationships.
There is no single cause known for depression; a number of factors may be at work, alone or together, including a family history of the disease, a recent trauma or loss, or encountering an uncommon level of stress.

What are some of the symptoms of depression?

Recurring feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Loss of interest in hobbies or favorite activities, including sex
Pessimism
Fatigue or decreased energy
Changes in sleep such as early morning wakefulness, excessive sleeping or insomnia
Changes in appetite (either an increase or a decrease)
Persistent aches, pains or digestive problems
Thoughts of suicide

How common is depression?

Depression is a very common illness. Some studies report that perhaps as many as 25% of women and 15% of men have experienced a depressive disorder of some sort at some time in their lives.

Does treatment help?

The good news is that the majority of people who receive treatment for depression will experience improvement in their symptoms. Unfortunately, many people do not seek treatment, for numerous reasons, including:

The perceived stigma associated with the disease
Misunderstanding or confusion about depression’s symptoms
Concern that getting treatment is a sign of weakness
Worry that seeking treatment will result in job or income loss

What treatment options are available?

A mental healthcare provider may employ one or more strategies to address
depression, including:

Psychotherapy –including interpersonal therapy (“talk” therapy) and other approaches
Medication