In any given year over 18 million people suffer from depression. Many never seek treatment yet most cases of depression are very treatable with effective therapies and medications. During National Depression Screening Day, held every October, mental health facilities nationwide offer free, anonymous screening tests for depression, manic-depression, grief and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Below, Dr. Norman Sussman is a professor of psychiatry at New York University, describes the signs and symptoms of depression, some common misconceptions about the disorder and how treatment can help.
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that's primarily characterized by a sense of feeling sad, but not just the kind of sadness that occurs in response to normal life events. People with depression have experienced symptoms for at least two weeks, and their symptoms are distressing or, to some degree, disabling. Symptoms associated with depression include loss of interest in activities, difficulty sleeping, changes in activity level, such as feeling very tired and sluggish all the time, or feeling very agitated and restless. People may have suicidal thoughts and may also have physical symptoms. Very often when people get depressed, they complain of changes in appetite, headache or bowel difficulties.
Does it matter what caused the depression?
People seem to feel that the diagnosis of depression is contingent upon whether or not it happened spontaneously.
Copyright 2009 NBC Health
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