Depression Center
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General Overview
Depression is a mental illness characterized by feelings of profound sadness and lack of interest in enjoyable activities. It may cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. Unlike a blue mood, depression can last for weeks, months, or years, and rarely subsides without treatment.
InDepth
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Find answers in our in-depth report on depression:
- What is depression?
- What are the risk factors?
- How is it diagnosed?
- How is it treated?
- What are the screening tests?
- How can I reduce my risk?
- What questions should I ask my healthcare provider about depression?
Living With Depression
Here’s what you need to know about how to prevent and treat depression while you or your child is in college.
Depression in men is often overlooked, but it is a very serious problem.
Read here to find out how to recognize when an employee might have a problem with depression and what you can do to help.
Read one woman's account of her more than 40-year struggle with depression.
Treating Depression
Folic acid, the B-vitamin that is famous for its role in preventing birth defects, is now under scrutiny for its effects on another devastating condition—depression.
Perhaps you have a chronic or difficult problem, or maybe you feel depressed or sad. Before you jump into therapy, there are important issues that you need to consider.
By making the distinction between “the blues” and clinical depression, you can take the appropriate actions that may help improve your mood and quality of life.
Whether you or someone you love needs therapy, it helps to know the difference between the types of mental health professionals.
Treating Depression (Continued)
Support groups: how do they help?
Find out how a support group may help you and how to find the right one.
Special Topics
After two weeks of taking Accutane, an acne medication, 19-year-old Joe began experiencing fatigue, lack of motivation, sleep problems, and crying spells. He was diagnosed with depression—something his healthcare provider eventually believed was related to his use of Accutane.
History is filled with writers, poets, artists, musicians, composers, and other creative people who wrestled with mood disorders. But is this portrayal just a stereotype, or is there really a link between creativity and depression?
Which comes first—depression or chronic illness? While the connection works both ways, one thing's for sure: treatment can make a difference.
Soon your doctor may start asking more questions about your mental health. Prompting these changes are innovative new recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force on screening for depression in adults.
Several medical studies have found an association between depression and a higher risk for heart complications including death.
About 5% of children and adolescents in the Unites States suffer from depression. Could this put them at increased risk for obesity? A study from the journal
Pediatrics
explores the possible link.
Do you feel the effects of shorter winter days? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can cause sadness, fatigue, weight gain, and depression.
True or False?
True or false: depression and suicide rates rise during the holiday season
Many people believe that
depression, anxiety, and suicide rates rise during the holidays. Is this true?
Related Conditions
Natural and Alternative Treatments (By Condition)
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association http://www.ndmda.org
National Foundation For Depressive Illness, Inc. http://www.depression.org