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is Depression? It is easier to say what depression is not, than it is to give a precise definition. Depression is not feeling blue or down in the dumps. Depression is still viewed by many as a personal weakness and it remains a disease that few of its sufferers admit to due to the stigma attached to it. Depression is a medical disorder, with an identifiable set of symptoms. Depression can be successfully treated. Severe depression: present when a person has nearly all of the symptoms of depression, and the depression almost always keeps them from doing their regular day-to-day activities. Moderate depression: present when a person has many symptoms of depression that often keep them from doing things that they need to do. Mild depression: present when a person has some of the symptoms of depression and it takes extra effort to do the things they need to do.  Back
to Top ------------------------------------------------------------------- Types of Depression Major Depressive Disorder, single episode or recurrent. Major depression occurs in episodes. Some may have a single occurrence in a lifetime; others have recurrences of major depression. Bipolar disorder, formally known as manic-depressive illness, is characterized by periods of depression alternating with periods of elevated moods. During manic episodes, people are overly active, euphoric, irritable, talkative and may exhibit generally inappropriate behavior such as increased spending, increased socializing including increased sexual activity and increased substance abuse. Most patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder have had, or will have, depressive episodes as part of the course of their illness. Dysthymia involves symptoms similar to those of major depression. The symptoms are milder but more enduring, lasting a minimum of two years. Dysthymic patients may lack enthusiasm and zest. Back
to Top ------------------------------------------------------------------- Who Gets Depressed In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness.1 The economic cost for this disorder is high, but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. But much of this suffering is unnecessary. 1 Robins LN, Regier DA (Eds). Psychiatric Disorders in America, The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, 1990; New York: The Free Press , Click Here. Back
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