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Understanding “Depression” There are several forms of depressive disorders • Major depressive disorder (MDD) - a severely depressed mood that persists for at least two weeks. Suicide occurs in 15% of individuals with severe MDD. • Dysthymic disorder - a mild depression that continues almost daily over a span of at least two years. • Psychotic depression - is one of the most severe in which the person experiences moments of delusional or paranoid being. • Postpartum depression - affects two mothers out of a thousand after childbirth, lasts only a few weeks. Includes hallucinations and delusions. • Seasonal affective disorder - experience depressive symptoms in winter. Depression • Depression is a serious medical condition that affects a person's work, family and school life, sleeping and eating habits. For some, depression can include thoughts of death or suicide. Depression affects plenty of people who don't have any obvious risk factors. • Affects about 7-18% of the population • more common in women than in men • Depression is highly treatable Symptoms of Depression Depression has a variety of physical and emotional symptoms: • Feeling unhappy • Tired, no sex drive • Loss of interest in life; no enjoyment from things you previously enjoyed • Loss of confidence • Fatigue or lack of energy • Sleeping too much or too little • Change in appetite or weight • Trouble concentrating • Feeling useless/hopeless, irritable • Avoiding people • Problems concentrating What causes Depression? • A combination of genetic (50% of depression victims have 1 or both parents who have also suffered from it), psychological, and environmental factors is often involved in the onset of depression. • an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters (serotonin). • Other risk factors for depression: – – – – Early childhood trauma or abuse Alcohol or drug abuse Unemployment or underemployment Health problems or chronic pain Gender also has an influence– – women are about twice as likely to suffer from depression than men are – Why? • hormonal changes due to: puberty, menstruation, pregnancy/childbirth (postpartum depression is commong) and menopause • men are more likely to go undiagnosed; more likely to be angry/hostile and mask their condition with alcohol or drug use. – Suicide is a serious risk for men who are depressed Treating Depression • Most common: psychotherapy and medication. – Treating depression with drugs Antidepressants are often the first treatment option prescribed by health professionals. Changes levels of certain neurotransmitters. Possible side effects include: headache, nausea, nervousness, blurred vision or drowsiness. – Treating depression with psychotherapy or counseling cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) CBT teaches people to change negative thinking and behavior, IPT helps people work through trouble personal relationships. • Other methods of treatment include exercise, acupuncture, meditation, and herbal supplements. Statistics: • According to Health Canada and Statistics Canada, approximately 8% of adult Canadians will experience a major depression/anxiety at some point in their lives, and around 5% will in a given year. • 15% of severely depressed women will commit suicide • 3 million Canadians have serious depression, although only 1 in 10 will seek medical treatment. • 80 – 90% of depressed people respond to treatment and get relief.