Depression
~ From the National Institue of Mental Health (NIMH)
Depression affects over 15 million American adults, or approximately 5 to 8 percent of the adult population in a given year. Depression is one of the most common psychological conditions. Among all medical illnesses, major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and many other developed countries.
Depression occurs twice as frequently in women as in men, for reasons that are not fully understood. More than half of those who experience a single episode of depression will continue to have episodes that occur as frequently as once or even twice a year. Without treatment, the frequency of depressive illness as well as the severity of symptoms tends to increase over time. Left untreated, depression can lead to suicide. (National Alliance of Mental Illness, 2009)
Some symptoms of depression include:
- persistently sad or irritable mood
- pronounced changes in sleep, appetite, and energy
- difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering
- physical slowing or agitation
- lack of interest in or pleasure from activities that were once enjoyed
- feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, and emptiness
- recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Depression can be effectively treated with psychotherapy and/or medications. Those with mild depression may respond well to psychotherapy alone, while more severe depression may be best treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
~ From the National Institue of Mental Health (NIMH)
