Depression
Also called: Clinical depression, Dysthymic disorder, Major depressive disorder, Unipolar depression
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Summary
Depression is a serious medical illness. It’s more than just a feeling of being sad or “blue” for a few days. If you are one of the more than 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include
- Feeling sad or “empty”
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
- Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
- Feeling very tired
- Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Depression is a disorder of the brain. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression can happen at any age, but it often begins in teens and young adults. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.
There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants, talk therapy, or both.
NIH: National Institute of Mental Health
Latest News
- Scans Spot Brain Region That Misfires in Depressed People (05/31/2016, HealthDay)
- Scientists Test ‘Magic Mushroom’ Chemical for Tough-To-Treat Depression (05/17/2016, HealthDay)
- Could Inducing Brief, Mild ‘Fever’ Help Ease Depression? (05/16/2016, HealthDay)
- More News on Depression
Symptoms
- Signs and Symptoms of Mood Disorders (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)Available in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Brain Stimulation Therapies
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Depression Is Treatable, But You Need to Seek Help (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Depression: Should You Consider Antipsychotics? (Consumers Union of U.S.) – PDF
- Let’s Learn about Medicines to Treat Depression (National Center for Farmworker Health, Consumers Union of U.S.) – PDF
- MedlinePlus: Antidepressants
(National Library of Medicine)Available in Spanish
- Psychotherapies
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- St. John’s Wort and Depression
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Therapy and Counseling (American Academy of Family Physicians)Available in Spanish
- Time to Talk: 5 Things to Know about St. John’s Wort and Depression
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Treating Anxiety, ADHD, Depression, Insomnia, and PTSD with Antipsychotics
Living With
- Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Related Issues
- Alzheimer’s or Depression: Could It Be Both? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Chronic Illness & Mental Health
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Coping with Unexpected Events: Depression and Trauma (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
- Depression and African Americans (Mental Health America)
- Depression and Anxiety in Migraine Patients (American Headache Society)
- Depression and Suicide Risk (American Association of Suicidology) – PDF
Specifics
- Atypical Depression (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Can Lupus Cause Depression? (Lupus Foundation of America)
- Caregiving and Depression (Family Caregiver Alliance)Available in Spanish
- Coping with Suicidal Thoughts (American Academy of Family Physicians)Available in Spanish
- Dementia: Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians)Available in Spanish
- Depression (PDQ)
(National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish
- Depression After Brain Injury: A Guide for Patients and Their Caregivers (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)Available in Spanish
- Depression in the Workplace (Mental Health America)
- Dysthymic Disorder (American Academy of Family Physicians)Available in Spanish
- Treatment-Resistant Depression (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- What Does the Term “Clinical Depression” Mean? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Health Check Tools
- Screening for Depression (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
Videos and Tutorials
- Symptoms and Treatment of Depression
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Statistics and Research
- Depression in Older Adults (Mental Health America)
- Major Depression Among Adults
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Major Depressive Episode among Full-Time College Students and Other Young Adults, Aged 18 to 22 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) – PDF
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Depression
(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Dysthymic Disorder
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- American Psychiatric Association
- Find Your Local NAMI (NAMI)
- Help for Mental Illnesses
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Mental Health Treatment Program Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association)
Children
- Depression in Children and Teens (American Academy of Family Physicians)Available in Spanish
- Taking Your Child to a Therapist (Nemours Foundation)Available in Spanish
- Understanding Depression (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)Available in Spanish
- Why Am I So Sad? (Nemours Foundation)Available in Spanish
Teenagers
- Depression (Nemours Foundation)Available in Spanish
- Depression and College Students
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Teen Depression
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Men
- Male Depression: Understanding the Issues (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Men and Depression
(National Institute of Mental Health)Available in Spanish
Women
- Depression (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health)
- Depression and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) – PDFAvailable in Spanish
- Depression in Women
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Depression in Women: Understanding the Gender Gap (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Seniors
- Depression
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Depression
(National Institute on Aging)Available in Spanish
- Older Adults and Depression
(National Institute of Mental Health)Available in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Depression Available in Spanish
- Depression – elderly Available in Spanish
- Depression – stopping your medicines Available in Spanish
- Dysthymia Available in Spanish
- Heart disease and depression Available in Spanish
- Learning about depression Available in Spanish
- Major depression Available in Spanish
- Major depression with psychotic features Available in Spanish