What Is Depression?

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity. While often described as a dysfunction, there are also strong arguments for seeing depression as an adaptive defense mechanism.

Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better.

Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the vast majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. Intensive research into the illness has resulted in the development of medications, psychotherapies, and other methods to treat people with this disabling disorder.

People with depressive illnesses do not all experience the same symptoms. The severity, frequency and duration of symptoms will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

Symptoms include:

• Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings.



• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism.



• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness.



• Irritability, restlessness.



• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex.



• Fatigue and decreased energy.



• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions.



• Insomnia, early morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping.



• Overeating, or appetite loss.



• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts.



• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment.

How is depression detected and treated?

Depression, even the most severe cases, is a highly treatable disorder. As with many illnesses, the earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective it is and the greater the likelihood that recurrence can be prevented.The first step to getting appropriate treatment is to visit a doctor. Certain medications, and some medical conditions such as viruses or a thyroid disorder, can cause the same symptoms as depression.

A doctor can rule out these possibilities by conducting a physical examination, interview and lab tests. If the doctor can eliminate a medical condition as a cause, he or she should conduct a psychological evaluation or refer the patient to a mental health professional.The doctor or mental health professional will conduct a complete diagnostic evaluation. He or she should discuss any family history of depression, and get a complete history of symptoms.