Clinical Depression Information
-
Cause
-
The exact cause of clinical depression remains unknown, but researchers have linked depression to stress, alcohol abuse, behavior and chemical imbalances in the brain
Clinical Depression Defined
-
The American Medical Association defines clinical depression as exhibiting at least five symptoms of depression consistently for at least two weeks.
Symptoms
-
Some symptoms of major depression include oversleeping, insomnia, appetite changes, impaired decision-making skills, crying spells, anxiousness and suicidal thoughts.
Medication Therapy
-
Medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the newer, more popular treatments for clinical depression. Examples of these prescriptions include Prozac, Celexa and Zoloft.
Psychological Therapy
-
Cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy are the two most common types. Psychiatrists may suggest short-term or long-term therapy depending on the severity of the depression.
-