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Description - from the National Institute of Mental Health

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression.

Depressive disorders come in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as heart disease. Following is a description of the three of the most common types of depressive disorders. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence.

Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.

A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.

Another type of depression is bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the manic cycle, the individual may be overactive, overtalkative, and have a great deal of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, the individual in a manic phase may feel elated, full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic sprees. Mania, left untreated, may worsen to a psychotic state.

Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time.

Depression

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood

Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex

Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"

Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain

Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts

Restlessness, irritability

Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Mania

Abnormal or excessive elation

Unusual irritability

Decreased need for sleep

Grandiose notions

Increased talking

Racing thoughts

Increased sexual desire

Markedly increased energy

Poor judgment

Inappropriate social behavior

Wegner Center Resources

Depression in Late Life - Book
Wegner Books WM 171 B645d 2002

Straight Talk About Your Mental Health - Book
Wegner Books WM 75 M879 2002

Understanding Depression: What We Know and What You Can Do About It - Book
Wegner Books WM 171 D419 2002

Why Are You So Sad? A Child's Book About Parental Depression - Childrens Book
Wegner Childrens WM 171 A566 2002

Homespun Medical Tips - Requires RealAudio

Depression
with Dr. Debra Johnston, Family Practice Physician from Brookings, SD (September 2001)

Depression
with Dr. David Bean, Psychiatrist from Sioux Falls, SD (January 2002)

Depression and the Elderly
with Dr. David Sandvick, Internist from Rapid City, SD (April 2003)

Depression and ECT Treatment
with Dr. Robert Giebink, Psychiatrist from Sioux Falls, SD (May 2001)

Web Resources

National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc. (NAFDI)
http://www.depression.org
The goals of the NAFDI are to: educate the public about depressive illness; provide needed information to physicians and other professionals; provide needed information and referrals to all who make requests; encourage additional professionals to enter the field; and to help translate public awareness into focused programs of research, education, and treatment innovation.

National Institute of Mental Health - Depression
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depressionmenu.cfm
This site provides information on symptoms, possible causes, tell how depression is diagnosed, and discusses available treatments. Provides an online screening tool and a variety of brochures, pamphlets, and fact sheets that can be printed and shared.

National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
http://www.nmha.org
The NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research, and service.

Current Literature

Depression from MEDLINEplus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html
MEDLINEplus provides extensive information from the a variety of trusted sources, in English and in Spanish.

Medem Medical Library - Mental Health
http://www.medem.com/medlb/medlib_entry.cfm
Medem's award-winning Medical Library represents the full rant of patient education information from medical societies and other trusted sources, and is unsurpassed in quality, breadth and depth of health care information.

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