Understanding

Major Depression

Major Depression (MD) 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.

MD is NOT a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away.

People with MD 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.

Major depression (MD) is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy

once pleasurable activities, including:

• Loss of interest • Loss of sex drive• Restlessness/irritability • Insomnia• Thoughts of death/suicide• Guilt/worthlessness

MD: What does it look like?

• Decreased energy or fatigue• Difficulty concentrating/remembering• Changes in appetite/weight• Changes in sleep patterns• Sad, anxious or empty mood• Hopelessness/pessimism

MD is often accompanied by persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to

treatment, including:

• Headaches • Chronic pain• Digestive disorders

MD: What does it look like?

Major depression CAN be treated!

The great majority of people with depression (even those whose depression is extremely severe) can be helped.

Unfortunately, most people with a depressive illness do not seek treatment.

MD: Getting a diagnosis

The first step to getting appropriate treatment for depression is a physical examination by a doctor.

Certain medications and medical conditions can cause the same symptoms as depression, and a physician should rule out these possibilities!

MD: Getting a diagnosis

If a physical cause for the depression is ruled out, a psychological evaluation should be done by the physician or by referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

MD: Getting a diagnosis

A child who is depressed might pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that the parent may die.

Older children may sulk, get into trouble at school, be negative or grouchy, and feel misunderstood.

MD: Depression in children

Because normal behaviors vary from one childhood stage to another, it can be difficult to tell whether a child is just going through a temporary "phase" or is suffering from depression.

MD: Depression in children

If you are worried about your child, talk to your family doctor or to the child's pediatrician in order to rule out other causes for the behavioural changes.

MD: Depression in children

Genetic, psychological, physical and environmental factors all seem to be involved in the onset of a depressive disorder.

GeneticFactors

Is depression inherited? Major depression can occur generation after generation in some families, but it can also occur in people who have no family history of depression. Whether inherited or not, major depressive disorder is often associated with changes in brain structures or brain function.

PsychologicalFactors

People who are pessimists, who have low self-esteem, or who are readily overwhelmed by stress are prone to depression. Whether this represents a psychological predisposition or an early form of the illness is not clear.

What Causes MD?

PhysicalFactors

Many medical illnesses (like stroke, heart attack, cancer) can result in depressive episodes in some people.

EnvironmentalFactors

A serious loss, difficult relationship, financial problem, or any stressful change in life patterns can trigger a depressive episode.

What Causes MD?

MD: TreatmentTreatments include antidepressant medications and

psychotherapies. People with milder depression might do well with psychotherapy alone, but people with moderate to severe depression most often benefit from antidepressants.

MD: Treatment

Often a combined treatment works best - medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and

psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life's problems (including depression).

+

MD: Treatment

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can also be useful, particularly for people whose depression is severe or life threatening or who cannot take

antidepressant medication.

MD: Treatment

Depending on the patient's diagnosis and severity of symptoms, the therapist may prescribe medication

and/or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for depression.

Sometimes doctors have to try a variety of antidepressants before finding the most effective medication or combination of medications.

Sometimes the dosage must be increased to be effective.

Although some improvements may be seen in the first few weeks, anti-depressant medications must be taken regularly for 3 to 4 weeks (in some cases, as many as 8 weeks) before the full therapeutic effect occurs!

Medications for MD include:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

MD: Medications

MD: Medications… Don’t Stop!

Although side effects might appear before the antidepressant activity does, it is important to keep taking medication until it has a chance to work!

Some people are tempted to stop taking their medication because they think that the medication isn't helping.

MD: Medications… Don’t Stop!

Once you start feeling better, it is important to continue the medication for at least 4-9 months

to prevent a recurrence of the depression.

Some people are tempted to stop because they feel better and think that they don’t need the medication anymore.

MD: Medications… Don’t Stop!

Some medications must be stopped gradually to give the body time to adjust.

Never stop taking an antidepressant without consulting your doctor for instructions on how to safely discontinue the medication!

Want to know more about Major Depression?

The information provided in this presentation is based on information provided by the National Institute of Mental Health.

For more information about MD, visit their website at www.nimh.nih.gov or talk to your family physician.

_______________________________

Image CreditsSlide 1: Paulo Correa aka Nookiez - http://www.sxc.hu/profile/nookiez

Sun Life Financial ChairIn Adolescent Mental Health

For more information visit

WWW.TEENMENTALHEALTH.ORG

BLOG.TEENMENTALHEALTH.ORG