Depression is a mental health condition that affects a person's state of mind, leading to a sense of abandonment or limitation in various areas of life, such as personal relationships, family life and work. It is more commonly diagnosed in women.
It has a multifactorial origin involving genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors.
Symptoms include feelings of sadness, despondency and unhappiness; generalised discouragement; low self-esteem; and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities. It is also often associated with changes in appetite and sleep patterns.
Depression is diagnosed through a clinical interview that considers a number of medical criteria and rules out other diseases that produce similar symptoms. Treatment involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy and/or behavioural therapy. A specialist should assess the severity of the condition, including the risk of suicide. It is generally advisable to go to an emergency room if the depression leads to self-harm, is debilitating or interferes with basic activities, or if the person has recurrent thoughts of death.
Depression is a mental illness that affects one's state of mind, leading to abandonment or limitations in various areas of life, such as personal, family, and work-related areas. It is more commonly diagnosed in women.
Depression has a multifactorial origin involving genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Symptoms include sadness, despondency, unhappiness, generalized discouragement, low self-esteem, and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities. Depression is often associated with changes in appetite and sleep.
Depression is clinically diagnosed through a focused interview that considers several medical criteria and rules out other diseases with similar symptoms. Treatment involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and/or behavioral therapy. A specialist should assess the severity of the condition, including the risk of suicide. In general, it is advisable to go to the emergency room if the depression leads to self-harm, becomes debilitating, or interferes with basic activities. It is also advisable to go to the emergency room if the person has recurrent thoughts of death.
- John Williams, MD. Jason Nieuwsma, PhD. Screening for depression in adults. UpToDate. Jul 19, 2016.
- Ansseau M, Dierick M, Buntinkx F, et al. High prevalence of mental disorders in primary care. J Affect Disord 2004; 78:49.
- Bell RA, Franks P, Duberstein PR, et al. Suffering in silence: reasons for not disclosing depression in primary care. Ann Fam Med 2011; 9:439.
- Siu AL, US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Bibbins-Domingo K, et al. Screening for Depression in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA 2016; 315:380.
- Peter P Roy-Byrne, MD. Unipolar depression in adults: Treatment with antidepressant combinations. UpToDate. May 27, 2015.
