Depression, which may represent either a temporary mental state, or a chronic mental disorder, is characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, guilt and withdrawal from social contact.
Depression will affect one third of adults in the United States sometime during their lives. At any given time, 5% of adults are depressed, with women being three times likely as men to suffer depression. Although the median age of onset of depression is 25 years, the initial episode can occur at any age.
Most persons who experience depressive symptoms have a minor depression. Fortunately, almost all sufferers recover completely from a single episode of depression. Major depression is a recurrent disorder, and the risk of further episodes increases with each subsequent episode. Depression is a significant risk factor for suicide among men and women, young and old.
Depression is thought to be due to a deficiency in one or more of three chemicals (neurotransmittors) in the brain called monoamines: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Most cases of depression are best treated with a combination of medication and psychological counseling or psychotherapy. Pharmacological approaches attempt to correct the chemical imbalance that is causing the depression. Treatment usually consists of medications and psychotherapy. Severe cases may warrant electroconvulsive therapy.
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
The mutually reinforcing triad of depressive symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and erectile dysfunction. American Journal of Cardiology. 2000
Commentary: assessment of clinical depression in patients who request physician-assisted death. Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. 2000
Nutrition and depression: focus on folate. Nutrition. 2000
Adult brain neurogenesis and psychiatry: a novel theory of depression. Molecular Psychiatry. 2000
Dysthymia: a review of pharmacological and behavioral factors. Molecular Psychiatry. 2000
The role of depression severity in the cognitive functioning of elderly subjects with central nervous system disease. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 2000
Is depression a risk factor for dementia or cognitive decline? A review. Gerontology. 2000
The effects of nicotine on neural pathways implicated in depression: a factor in nicotine addiction?. Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior. 2000
Dieting, essential fatty acid intake, and depression. Nutrition Reviews. 2000
Cancer-related depression: Part I--Neurologic alterations and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2000
MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.
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