News
One in ten adults experiences depression
Published: Sep 19, 2003 - 11:08 AM
Life is full of emotional ups and downs. But when the "down" times are long lasting or interfere with an individual's ability to function, that person may be suffering from a common, serious illness -- depression.
Depression is more than the blues
Clinical depression affects mood, mind, body, and behavior. Research has shown that in the United States more than 17 million people -- one in ten adults -- experience depression each year, and nearly two thirds do not get the help they need. Treatment can alleviate the symptoms in over 80 percent of the cases. Yet, because it often goes unrecognized, depression continues to cause unnecessary suffering.
Women are disproportionately affected by depression, experiencing it at roughly twice the rate of men. Research continues to explore how the illness affects women. At the same time, it is important to increase women's awareness of what is already known about depression, so that they seek early and appropriate treatment.
To grasp the specifics of depression in women, it is essential to have a broad understanding of the illness itself. To this end, this material presents an overview of depression as a pervasive and impairing illness that affects women and men in similar fashion. It then focuses on special issues -- biological, life cycle, and psychsocial -- that are unique to women and may be associated with depression.
What is "Depression?"
There are three types of depression:
1. major depression, also known as unipolar or clinical depression, people have some or all of the symptoms (listed on the next page) for at least 2 weeks or as long as several months or even longer. Episodes of the illness can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime.
2. In dysthymia, the same symptoms are present though milder, but lasting at least two years. People with dysthymia also can experience major depressive episodes, which is sometimes called a "double depression."
3. Manic-depression, or bipolar illness, which is not nearly as common as other forms of depressive illness, and involves disruptive cycles of depressive symptoms that alternate with euphoria, irritable excitement or mania.
Symptoms of Depression and Mania
A thorough diagnostic evaluation is needed if five or more of the following symptoms persist for more than two weeks, or if they interfere with work or family life. An evaluation involves a complete physical checkup and information-gathering on family health history.
Not everyone with depression experiences each of these symptoms. The severity of the symptoms also varies from person to person.
Depression:
* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
* Restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism
* Sleeping too much or too little, early-morning awakening
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Mania:
* Abnormally elevated mood
* Irritability
* Severe insomnia
* Grandiose notions
* Increased talking
* Racing thoughts
* Increased activity, including sexual activity
* Markedly increased energy
* Poor judgement that leads to risk-taking behavior
* Inappropriate social behavior
Some people mistakenly try to "reduce" their depressive symptoms through alcohol or other mood-altering drugs. While such drugs may provide temporary relief, they will eventually complicate the depressive disorder and its treatment, and can lead to dependence and the life problems that come with it.
Women are at greater risk
Major depression and dysthymia affect twice as many women as men. This two-to-one ratio exists regardless of racial and ethnic background or economic status. The same ratio has been reported in eleven other countries all over the world. Men and women have about the same rate of bipolar disorder (manic depression), though its course in women typically has more depressive and fewer manic episodes. Also, a greater number of women have the rapid cycling form of bipolar disorder, which may be more resistant to standard treatments.
A variety of factors unique to women's lives are suspected to play a role in developing depression. Research is focused on understanding these, including: reproductive, hormonal, genetic or other biological factors; abuse and oppression; interpersonal factors; and certain psychological and personality characteristics. And yet, the specific causes of depression in women remain unclear; many women exposed to these factors do not develop depression. What is clear is that regardless of the contributing factors, depression is a highly treatable illness and that the types of treatment discussed later in this series are effective for a majority of women.
Article generously provided by National Institute of Mental Health
For free brochures on depression and its treatment, call: 1-800-421-4211
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the Womens web site NewsLetter and receive updates of what is going on right in your mailbox. You choose whether its HTML or Text. We do the rest. Deliveries are made at the end of each week.
Womens web site NewsLetter
Clinical depression affects mood, mind, body, and behavior. Research has shown that in the United States more than 17 million people -- one in ten adults -- experience depression each year, and nearly two thirds do not get the help they need. Treatment can alleviate the symptoms in over 80 percent of the cases. Yet, because it often goes unrecognized, depression continues to cause unnecessary suffering.
Women are disproportionately affected by depression, experiencing it at roughly twice the rate of men. Research continues to explore how the illness affects women. At the same time, it is important to increase women's awareness of what is already known about depression, so that they seek early and appropriate treatment.
To grasp the specifics of depression in women, it is essential to have a broad understanding of the illness itself. To this end, this material presents an overview of depression as a pervasive and impairing illness that affects women and men in similar fashion. It then focuses on special issues -- biological, life cycle, and psychsocial -- that are unique to women and may be associated with depression.
What is "Depression?"
There are three types of depression:
1. major depression, also known as unipolar or clinical depression, people have some or all of the symptoms (listed on the next page) for at least 2 weeks or as long as several months or even longer. Episodes of the illness can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime.
2. In dysthymia, the same symptoms are present though milder, but lasting at least two years. People with dysthymia also can experience major depressive episodes, which is sometimes called a "double depression."
3. Manic-depression, or bipolar illness, which is not nearly as common as other forms of depressive illness, and involves disruptive cycles of depressive symptoms that alternate with euphoria, irritable excitement or mania.
Symptoms of Depression and Mania
A thorough diagnostic evaluation is needed if five or more of the following symptoms persist for more than two weeks, or if they interfere with work or family life. An evaluation involves a complete physical checkup and information-gathering on family health history.
Not everyone with depression experiences each of these symptoms. The severity of the symptoms also varies from person to person.
Depression:
* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
* Restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism
* Sleeping too much or too little, early-morning awakening
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Mania:
* Abnormally elevated mood
* Irritability
* Severe insomnia
* Grandiose notions
* Increased talking
* Racing thoughts
* Increased activity, including sexual activity
* Markedly increased energy
* Poor judgement that leads to risk-taking behavior
* Inappropriate social behavior
Some people mistakenly try to "reduce" their depressive symptoms through alcohol or other mood-altering drugs. While such drugs may provide temporary relief, they will eventually complicate the depressive disorder and its treatment, and can lead to dependence and the life problems that come with it.
Women are at greater risk
Major depression and dysthymia affect twice as many women as men. This two-to-one ratio exists regardless of racial and ethnic background or economic status. The same ratio has been reported in eleven other countries all over the world. Men and women have about the same rate of bipolar disorder (manic depression), though its course in women typically has more depressive and fewer manic episodes. Also, a greater number of women have the rapid cycling form of bipolar disorder, which may be more resistant to standard treatments.
A variety of factors unique to women's lives are suspected to play a role in developing depression. Research is focused on understanding these, including: reproductive, hormonal, genetic or other biological factors; abuse and oppression; interpersonal factors; and certain psychological and personality characteristics. And yet, the specific causes of depression in women remain unclear; many women exposed to these factors do not develop depression. What is clear is that regardless of the contributing factors, depression is a highly treatable illness and that the types of treatment discussed later in this series are effective for a majority of women.
Article generously provided by National Institute of Mental Health
For free brochures on depression and its treatment, call: 1-800-421-4211
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the Womens web site NewsLetter and receive updates of what is going on right in your mailbox. You choose whether its HTML or Text. We do the rest. Deliveries are made at the end of each week.
Womens web site NewsLetter
