What is depression?
Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD), is a condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. It can affect how a person thinks, feels, and handles daily activities.
What are the common symptoms of depression?
- Persistent sadness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite, including significant weight loss or gain
- Sleep disturbances, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, excessive sleep, or reduced quality of sleep
- Fatigue
- Feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy
- Trouble concentrating
- Suicidal thoughts, including recurrent thoughts of death or self-harm
How is depression diagnosed?
Depression is diagnosed through a combination of self-reporting and professional evaluations.
Primary care physicians often are the main point of contact for individuals experiencing depression. However, you may also seek help from a mental health clinician, like a psychiatrist, therapist, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, who specializes in mental health.
Open and honest communication with your physician or clinician is essential for an accurate diagnosis. Discussing your symptoms, including persistent sadness, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts, can help your clinician understand the severity and nature of the condition.
What are other types of depression?
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) usually occurs during fall and winter and improves in the spring and summer.
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), or dysthymia, is defined as a low mood occurring for at least two years, along with two other symptoms of depression.
- Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that occurs following childbirth or becoming a parent and is characterized by persistent sadness, anxiety, feeling withdrawn from family, and experiencing sleep disturbances.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a chronic condition that causes severe mood swings and other symptoms that occur a week or two before a menstrual period.
- Atypical depression happens as a result of feeling a temporary boost in mood in response to positive events.
What are common treatments for depression?
Depression is a treatable condition, and early intervention can significantly improve symptoms. Common treatments include:
- Medication may be considered for moderate to severe depression, especially when therapy alone isn’t sufficient. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Zoloft (sertraline) and Prozac (fluoxetine), are considered first-line medications for depression. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), like Effexor XR (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine). Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can also be prescribed but are less commonly used due to side effects.
- Therapy is tailored to the patient’s needs and can help build coping skills, communication, and self-awareness to manage stress and emotions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help identify and challenge negative thinking patterns. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) addresses relationship issues and the role of social engagements. Psychodynamic therapy explores underlying emotional conflicts and childhood experiences.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe, non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). TMS uses short, magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive nerve cells in brain regions known to regulate mood.
- Spravato® (esketamine) is the only FDA-approved, self-administered nasal spray for adults with treatment-resistant depression. It is commonly prescribed with other treatments, such as antidepressant medications and therapy.
