Depression causes unnecessary suffering for both people who have the illness and their families. This eMedTV article describes how the illness can affect how you eat, sleep, and think about things, and also lists possible symptoms and risk factors.
Stress and certain drugs are among the things that may raise the risk of developing depression. As this eMedTV Web page explains, these risk factors don't guarantee that a person will develop the illness. The causes of depression are still unknown.
Scientists don't know the exact cause or causes of depression, but they know some depression risk factors. This eMedTV segment outlines a number of risk factors for depression, such as family history, substance abuse, medical illnesses, and stress.
Major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder are the three most common types of depression. This eMedTV segment explores each of these and other depression types in detail, including how they differ from each other in symptoms and duration.
Among the symptoms of depression are thoughts of death or suicide and restlessness and irritability. This eMedTV resource provides more detailed information about possible depression symptoms, as well as when they should be reported to a doctor.
Diagnosing depression starts with taking the patient's medical history. This eMedTV page lists the other steps in making a depression diagnosis, such as considering other conditions that can share similar symptoms with depression (like Lyme disease).
Common options for treating depression may involve drugs, psychotherapy, ECT, or alternative treatments. This eMedTV article discusses when each treatment option is appropriate and includes links to other articles about treatment for depression.
This eMedTV article describes how using psychotherapy for depression can help change the negative thinking and behavior that often accompany depression, as well as the disturbed personal relationships that may contribute to a person's depression.
Dealing with depression begins with seeking help from a qualified healthcare provider. This eMedTV page lists other steps to help deal with depression (like letting family and friends help you), as well as other resources.
Valerian and St. John's wort are among the supplements sometimes used to treat depression. This eMedTV page covers other natural remedies for depression, as well as things to consider before using them (like the safety of taking them while pregnant).
Acupuncture may be useful as a complementary treatment for depression. This eMedTV Web page gives an overview of acupuncture and depression, noting in particular that acupuncture shouldn't be used in place of conventional treatment options.
Many men who suffer from depression don't seek treatment. This part of the eMedTV library lists symptoms of depression in men (such as sleep disturbances), as well as types of male depression and other illnesses that can coexist with male depression.
As this eMedTV page explains, one in four women will at some point have severe depression. Women are at a higher risk of depression if they have certain depression risk factors (such as stress). This page gives an overview of depression in women.
This eMedTV page explains that depression in the elderly is not just a normal part of aging -- it is a serious condition requiring treatment. This page lists causes and symptoms of depression in older adults, as well as possible treatment options.
Children who are depressed may suffer from low-self esteem and have a hard time getting along with others. This eMedTV Web page provides detailed information about childhood depression, including its types, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Due to the developmental issues teens face, teen depression is a different illness than adult depression. This eMedTV segment offers an overview of the condition, noting in particular its causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options.
People with clinical depression are at a greater risk of suicide than people without the condition. This eMedTV page offers detailed information on the link between depression and suicide, as well as statistics and a list of risk factors for suicide.
About twice as many women as men have major depression. This eMedTV page gives a variety of other depression statistics, including the rates of depression among different age groups and in large metropolitan areas versus small metropolitan areas.
About one-third of all people who survive a heart attack will have at least one episode of major depression. This eMedTV resource explores the link between depression and heart disease, including specific ways in which depression affects the heart.
Stroke and depression are often linked. As explained on this eMedTV Web page, many people who have had a stroke experience depression. This article explains the benefits of diagnosing and treating depression experienced by stroke survivors.
Complications can result after pregnancy, and depression is perhaps the most common, but it doesn't need to be handled alone. This eMedTV resource discusses pregnancy and depression in detail, including types, symptoms, and treatment.
In some cases, ADHD and depression can occur together; however, there are symptoms specific to each one. This eMedTV article explores the link between the two conditions, explains how common they are, and offers ways to tell them apart.
This portion of the eMedTV archives describes how brain imaging and studies of brain chemistry (among other types of depression research) have led to new findings about depression causes, risk factors, and treatments.
Antidepressants are medications that are most commonly used for treating depression. This eMedTV article lists various types of antidepressants, explains how they work, and offers general information on what you should know before using these drugs.
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