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Understanding Depression: Symptoms & Treatment

Globally more than 300 million people suffer from depression each year, which can negatively impact mood, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms must last at least two weeks to be considered clinical depression and may include feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep, low energy, worthlessness, trouble concentrating, and suicidal thoughts. Depression is caused by biological, genetic, personality, and environmental factors and can be treated through antidepressants, psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, or a combination of treatments.

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19 views2 pages

Understanding Depression: Symptoms & Treatment

Globally more than 300 million people suffer from depression each year, which can negatively impact mood, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms must last at least two weeks to be considered clinical depression and may include feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep, low energy, worthlessness, trouble concentrating, and suicidal thoughts. Depression is caused by biological, genetic, personality, and environmental factors and can be treated through antidepressants, psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, or a combination of treatments.

Uploaded by

faluan renan
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What Is Depression?

Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from
depression.

Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year.

Around 2,600.

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 once
enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems
and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.

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

o Feeling sad or having a depressed mood.


o Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
o Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
o Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
o Loss of energy or increased fatigue.
o Feeling worthless or guilty.
o Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions.
o Thoughts of death or suicide.

Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of


depression.
Several factors can play a role in depression:
Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain.
Genetics: Depression can run in families.
Personality: People with low self-esteem, who are easily
overwhelmed by stress.
Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect,
abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to
depression.
Antidepressants may produce some improvement within the first
week or two of use.
Psychotherapy: or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for
treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression,
psychotherapy is often used in along with antidepressant
medications.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in
treating depression.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most
commonly used for patients with severe major depression or bipolar
disorder who have not responded to other treatments.

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