Introduction to Depression

As the Mayo Clinic explains, depression is "more than just a bout of the blues." It does not indicate an inherent individual weakness. Depression is a chronic disorder that usually requires long-term management, just as is the case with typical physical health ailments. Although it is a mental illness, depression can trigger physical symptoms as well.

Definition

• Depression, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), is a mood disorder, characterized by feelings of sadness, loss, anger and frustration. Affecting about 18 million Americans each year, clinically defined depression is ongoing and interferes with life's everyday activities. It varies in severity and, as the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) points out, it not only impacts the direct victim, but also it causes pain for friends and family members of the depressed person.

Types

• There are several types of depression. Major depression, notes UMMC, must last for at least two weeks but tends to continue for at least 20 weeks. A less severe form of depression, dysthymia presents milder symptoms and indicates an increased risk of major depression. UMMC reports that adjustment disorder is a form of depression. It occurs when your response to a major life event prompts depressive episodes. Atypical depression, likely the most common form, tends to improve when good things happen.

Signs and Symptoms

• Feeling down for a short period does not indicate depression. Instead, UMMC says that about 90 percent of depression patients suffer significant sleep problems, such as insomnia or excessive sleeping. Depressed individuals might also experience a change in appetite; difficulty concentrating; feelings of self-hate, guilt and worthlessness; agitation, restlessness and irritability; hopelessness; thoughts of death or suicide; and a loss of interest in sex. NIMH also claims that depression can bring about physical problems, such as headaches and digestive problems, that do not improve, even with treatment.

Causes

• The exact causes of depression are unknown. The Mayo Clinic lists several potential triggers, including chemical imbalances in the brain, genetics, a change in hormones that prompt depression, biological differences in the brain, and trauma from early childhood experiences and life events. UMMC also cites lack of sleep, social isolation, poor nutrition, serious medical conditions, some medications and the amount of exposure you have to light as potential causes of depression.

Treatment

• NIMH advises that medication and psychotherapy are the most common forms of treatment for depression. Antidepressant medications attempt to alter chemicals in the brain, particularly serotonin and norepinephrine, both of which regulate mood. Various types of "talk therapy," including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are used to treat depression. The length and frequency of therapy varies with the severity of your individual case. UMMC notes that lifestyle changes are often prescribed to alleviate depression. These include exercise, which is proven to reduce depressive symptoms in some people with mild-to-moderate as well as severe depression.