Overview

Depression and other mood disorders are very common and are considered serious mental illnesses. In fact, depression affects more than 19 million Americans every year. More than 17 million Americans suffer from Clinical Depression (severe and milder depression and manic depression). In 1997, only 23% of adults diagnosed with depression received treatment. It is unfortunate that, even though depression is almost always treated successfully, fewer than half of those suffering from this illness seek treatment. Effective treatments include anti-depressants and mood stabilizing medications or other somatic treatments and psychotherapy.
Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is characterized by a feeling of sadness for more than a few weeks and by having difficulty functioning in daily life. Depression appears to run in families, but research has not yet uncovered the exact mechanism that triggers it. More than 80% of people with depression can be treated successfully with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.
Symptoms of Depression

A person suffering from depression may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
A persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood

Sleeping too little or sleeping to much

Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain

Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed

Restlessness or irritability

Persistent physical symptoms that don't respond to treatment (headaches, chronic pain, constipation, etc.)

Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

Fatigue or loss of energy

Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless

Thoughts of death or suicide

In children, rapid mood swings between silliness and irritability or rages. (Symptoms overlap with those of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.)

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