Types of Depression
II
Depression in Women
II Depression in Men
II
Childhood Depression
II
Adolescent Depression
II
Depression in the Elderly
II
Clinical Depression
II
Major Depression
II
Dysthymia II
Atypical Depression
II
Bipolar Depression
II
Cyclothymia II
Seasonal Affective Disorder
II
Postpartum Depression (PPD)
II
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
(PMDD)
II
Holiday Depression II
Workplace Depression.
Clinical Depression.
Clinical depression, also known as major
depression, severe depression and
unipolar depression, affects almost 10 million
Americans annually. This number translates to about 5 percent of
the adult population that will experience major depression. Among
all medical illnesses, clinical depression is the leading cause of
disability in the United States.
The effects of clinical depression can be so intense that daily
functions like eating, sleeping or simply getting out of bed in
the morning seem impossible.
Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from clinical
depression. Clinical depression can occur with any age group and
any ethnic, racial or socioeconomic group.
Clinical depression is often a chronic, recurring illness.
Although some people who experience an episode of clinical
depression once will never have another episode, the majority of
people with clinical depression will have additional episodes
during their life. About 75 percent of those who experience an
episode of clinical depression will have at least one more episode
in their lifetime.
Although clinical depression is just one type of depression, it is
a severe form of depression. The three main categories of
depression are clinical depression, dysthymia and bipolar
depression. With clinical depression, more symptoms of depression
are present and these symptoms are usually more intense.
Clinical depression can be the result of a traumatic event.
Clinical depression can also develop slowly from a number of
personal disappointments and problems. Some people develop
clinical depression without any obvious crisis to blame.
If the onset of clinical depression is gradual, the person
experiencing clinical depression may not be aware of the severity
of their problem.
The symptoms of clinical depression include;
-
Persistent sadness or irritability.
-
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or hopelessness.
-
Changes in sleep, appetite and energy.
-
Lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyed.
-
Difficulty thinking clearly, concentrating or remembering.
-
Physical ailments like headaches or chronic pain that do not
respond to treatment.
-
Thoughts of death or suicide.
If several of these symptoms of clinical depression occur, last
longer than two weeks and interfere with daily functioning,
treatment should be sought out.
If untreated, clinical depression episodes can last six months to
a year. Research has shown that cognitive therapy coupled with
lifestyle changes like diet, supplementation and exercise is the
best treatment for clinical depression. This depression treatment
approach nets better results than using antidepressant medication
and/or psychotherapy.
Antidepressant medications can be helpful, but the person with
clinical depression considering the use of antidepressants should
be well educated on the side effects and risks of taking these
drugs.
