What is major depression? Overview of depression Depression is a depressive disorder that involves a person’s body, mood, and thoughts. It can affect and disrupt eating, sleeping, or thinking patterns, and is not the same as being unhappy or in a “blue” mood, nor is it 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. Treatment is often necessary and many times crucial to recovery.

Three types of depression

There are three primary types of depression, including:

major depression (clinical depression)

manic depression (bipolar disorder)

dysthymia (dysthymic disorder)

Major depression, also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression, is classified as a type of affective disorder or mood disorder that goes beyond the day’s ordinary ups and downs, becoming a serious medical condition and important health concern in this country.

Who is affected by major depression? The onset of depression is occurring earlier in life than in previous years, with women nearly twice as likely than men to develop major depression. What are the symptoms of major depression? The following are the most common symptoms of major depression. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood loss of interest in activities once previously enjoyed excessive crying increased restlessness and irritability decreased ability to concentrate and make decisions decreased energy thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts increased feelings of guilt, helplessness, and/or hopelessness weight and/or appetite changes due to over- or under-eating changes in sleep patterns social withdrawal physical symptoms unrealized by standard treatment (i.e., chronic pain, headaches) For a diagnosis of major depression to be made, an individual must exhibit five or more of these symptoms during the same two-week period. The symptoms of major depression may resemble other psychiatric conditions. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Depression in the Workplace Depression affects nearly 18.8 million American adults each year, including persons of all income levels, educational backgrounds, and professions. In the workplace, untreated depression is costly. In fact, the latest figures estimate that depression accounts for close to $12 billion in lost work days each year.

Additionally, more than $11 billion in other costs result from decreased productivity in the work place - mostly due to depressive symptoms that affect decision making skills, attention span, fatigue, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and problems with memory.

These figures increase significantly when the depression leads to substance abuse and addiction.

Seek consultation from an employee assistance counselor or consult your physician if depression and/or substance abuse and addiction is affecting your work performance. By law, all information you share will remain confidential.

How is major depression diagnosed? Because depression has shown to often co-exist with other medical conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, and other psychiatric disorders, such as substance abuse, or anxiety disorders, seeking early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to recovery.

A diagnosis is often made after a careful psychiatric examination and medical history performed by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.

Treatment for major depression: Specific treatment for major depression will be determined by your physician based on: your age, overall health, and medical history

extent of the disease

your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies

expectations for the course of the disease

your opinion or preference Treatment may include either, or a combination, of the following:

antidepressant medications (especially when combined with psychotherapy has shown to be very effective in the treatment of depression)

psychotherapy (most often cognitive-behavioral and/or interpersonal therapy that is focused on changing the individual’s distorted views of themselves and the environment around them, working through difficult relationships, and identifying stressors in the environment and how to avoid them)

family therapy

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Two-thirds of persons with major depression do not seek the appropriate treatment, although 80 percent of all people with clinical depression who seek treatment improve, usually within weeks. Without treatment, symptoms can persist for weeks, months, or years. Continued treatment may help to prevent reoccurrence of the depressive symptoms

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