What is depression?

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition where a person has a long lasting low mood, and/or may lose pleasure or interest in activities.

Other symptoms of depression include:

• A depressed mood during most of the day, particularly in the morning
• Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
• Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
• Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day, a condition called anhedonia that can be indicated by a subjective account or by observations of significant others
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide (not just fearing death)
• A sense of restlessness known as psychomotor agitation, or being slowed down, retardation
• Significant weight loss or gain

How long do these signs have to be present before they are diagnosed as depression?

With major or clinical depression, one of the key signs is either depressed mood or loss of interest. For a diagnosis of depression, at least one of these signs should be present most of the day either daily or nearly daily for at least two weeks. In addition, the depressive symptoms need to cause clinically significant distress or impairment. They cannot be due to the direct effects of a substance, for example, a drug or medication. Nor can they be the result of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism.

What are some common feelings associated with depression?

People with depressive illnesses do not all experience the same symptoms. How severe they are, how frequent, and how long they last will vary. It depends on the individual and their particular illness. Here are common symptoms people with depression experience:

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Insomnia, early morning wakefulness or excessive sleeping
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• No pleasure left in life any more
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

While these are common symptoms of depression, they may also occur in patterns. For example, a person may experience depression with mania or hypomania, a condition known as bipolar disorder. Or the symptoms may be seasonal as in the case of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Is childhood depression common?

Childhood depression is different from the normal "blues" and everyday emotions that occur as a child develops. If your child is sad, this does not necessarily mean they have significant depression. It's when the sadness becomes persistent, day after day, that depression may be an issue. Or, if your child has disruptive behaviour that interferes with normal social activities, interests, schoolwork, or family life, it may indicate that they have a depressive illness. The NHS estimates that 4% of children aged between 5 and 16 years old has depression. Bear in mind that while depression is a serious illness, it is also a treatable one.

What about depression in teenagers?

It is common for teenagers to occasionally feel unhappy. However, when the unhappiness lasts for more than two weeks and the teenager experiences other symptoms of depression, then they may be suffering from adolescent depression. Seek medical advice to find out if your teenager may be depressed. There is effective treatment available to help teenagers move beyond depression as they grow older.

Is depression difficult to diagnose?

It is estimated that, by the year 2020, major depression will be second only to ischaemic heart disease in terms of the leading causes of illness in the world. Patients with depression sometimes fail to realise (or accept) that there is a physical cause to their depressed moods. As a result, they may search endlessly for external causes.
In the UK, about 15% of people will suffer from at least one episode of major depression, according to the NHS. The suicide risk in people with this type of depression is the highest rate for any psychiatric state. Unfortunately, most people with clinical depression never seek treatment. Left undiagnosed and untreated, depression can worsen, lasting for years and causing untold suffering, and possibly suicide.

What are the warning signs of suicide?

Depression carries a high risk of suicide. Anybody who expresses suicidal thoughts or intentions should be taken very, very seriously. Do not hesitate to call a helpline, such as the Samaritans (on 08457 90 90 90, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) or the mental health charity, SANE (on 0845 767 8000, open from 1pm to 11pm every day). Or contact your GP or a mental health professional immediately.
Warning signs of suicide include:

• Thoughts or talk of death or suicide
• Thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
• Aggressive behaviour or impulsiveness

Previous suicide attempts increase the risk of future suicide attempts and completed suicide. All mention of suicide or violence must be taken seriously. If you intend or have a plan to commit suicide, call 999 or go to hospital for immediate treatment.

Are there different types of depression?

There are a number of different types of depression including:

• Major depression
• Chronic depression (dysthymia)
• Bipolar depression
• Seasonal depression (SAD or seasonal affective disorder)
• Psychotic depression
• Postnatal depression

Are there other types of depression?

Other types of depression that can occur include:

• Double depression, a condition that happens when a person with chronic depression (dysthymia) experiences an episode of major depression
• Secondary depression, a depression that develops after the development of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism, stroke, Parkinson's disease, or AIDS, or after a psychiatric problem such as schizophrenia, panic disorder, or bulimia
• Chronic treatment-resistant depression, a condition that lasts over a year and is extremely difficult to treat with antidepressants and other psychopharmacologic drugs and psychotherapies
• Masked depression, a depression that is hidden behind physical complaints for which no organic cause can be found.

For chronic treatment-resistant depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is usually the treatment of choice.

Can depression occur with other mental illnesses?

Depression commonly occurs with other illnesses such as anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias and eating disorders. If you or a loved one has symptoms of depression and/or these other mental illnesses, seek medical advice. Treatment is available to lift the depression so you or a loved one can regain your meaningful life.

Can depression have physical symptoms?

Because certain brain chemicals or neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin and norepinephrine, influence both mood and pain, it's not uncommon for depressed individuals to have physical symptoms. These symptoms may include joint pain, back pain, gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes. The symptoms may also be accompanied by slowed speech and physical retardation. Many patients go from doctor to doctor seeking treatment for their physical symptoms when, in fact, they are clinically depressed.

Where can I get help for depression?

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression, seek medical advice for treatment or referral to a mental health professional.
Source:  http://www.webmd.boots.com/depression/guide/what-is-depression