Depression

Depression
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Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home. 

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Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include: 

    • Feeling sad or having a depressed mood 

    • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed 
    • Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting 

    • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much 

    • Loss of energy or increased fatigue 

    • Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others) 

    • Feeling worthless or guilty 
    • Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions 

    • Thoughts of death or suicide 

Symptoms must last at least two weeks and must represent a change in your previous level of functioning for a diagnosis of depression. 

Also, medical conditions (e.g., thyroid problems, a brain tumor or vitamin deficiency) can mimic symptoms of depression so it is important to rule out general medical causes. 

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Strick reminder from Brain Health USA to seek a doctor’s advice in addition to using this app and before making any medical decisions.

Resources:

  • Depressive disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. http://www.psychiatryonline.org. Accessed Jan. 23, 2017.
  • National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/. Accessed Jan. 23, 2017.
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/. Accessed Jan. 23, 2017.
  • What you need to know. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-what-you-need-to-know/index.shtml. Accessed Jan. 23, 2017.
  • American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression. Accessed Jan. 23, 2017.