DEPRESSION: EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE

DEPRESSION: Effective Treatments

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Depression is more than the blues.
Depression is not a personal weakness.
Depression is a treatable illness.

DEPRESSIVE ILLNESSES ARE SERIOUS BUT TREATABLE DISORDERS

-- Depressive illnesses are more than temporary "blue" moods or periods of grief after a loss.

-- Symptoms of depression affect thoughts, feelings, body, and behaviors.

-- Without treatment, the symptoms can last for months, years, or a lifetime.

DEPRESSIVE ILLNESSES COME IN VARIOUS FORMS

-- Some depressive episodes occur suddenly for no apparent reason.

-- Some are triggered by a stressful experience.

-- Some people have one episode in a lifetime; others, recurrent episodes.

-- Some people's symptoms are so severe they are unable to function as usual.

-- Others have ongoing, chronic symptoms that do not interfere with functioning, but keep them from feeling really well.

-- Some people have bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive illness). They experience cycles of terrible "lows" and inappropriate "highs."

OVER 15 MILLION AMERICANS SUFFER FROM DEPRESSIVE ILLNESSES

Depressive illnesses take a staggering toll:

-- They cause great pain to millions of people.

-- The lives of families and friends are affected, often seriously disrupted.

-- They hurt the economy, costing an estimated $30 billion in 1990.

MANY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THEIR ILLNESS

Nearly two-thirds of depressed people do not get appropriate treatment because their symptoms:

-- Are not recognized.

-- Are blamed on personal weakness.

-- Are so disabling that people cannot reach out for help.

-- Are misdiagnosed and wrongly treated.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION CAN INCLUDE

-- Persistent sad or "empty" mood

-- Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex

-- Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"

-- Sleep disturbances (insomnia, early-morning waking, or oversleeping)

-- Eating disturbances (loss of appetite and weight, or weight gain)

-- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

-- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

-- Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts

-- Irritability

-- Excessive crying

-- Chronic aches and pains that don't respond to treatment

SYMPTOMS OF MANIA CAN INCLUDE

-- Excessively "high" mood

-- Irritability

-- Decreased need for sleep

-- Increased energy and activity

-- Increased talking, moving, and sexual activity

-- Racing thoughts

-- Disturbed ability to make decisions

-- Grandiose notions

-- Being easily distracted

IN THE WORKPLACE, DEPRESSION OFTEN MAY BE RECOGNIZED BY

-- Decreased productivity

-- Morale problems

-- Lack of cooperation

-- Safety problems, accidents

-- Absenteeism

-- Frequent complaints of being tired all the time

-- Complaints of unexplained aches and pains

-- Alcohol and drug abuse

GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS

A thorough diagnosis is needed if five or more of the symptoms of depression or mania persist for more than two weeks, or are interfering with work or family life. A good diagnosis involves a complete physical checkup and family history of health problems.

MOST PEOPLE CAN BE HELPED QUICKLY

The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness

The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs

With available treatment, 80 percent of the people with serious depression--even those with the most severe forms--can improve significantly. Symptoms can be relieved, usually in a matter of weeks.

See Natural Health Help for Depression.

-- There are effective medications and psychological treatments that often are used in combination. In severe depression, medication is usually required.

-- A number of short-term talk therapies to treat clinical depression have been developed in recent years.

-- Several types of medications are available, none of them habit-forming. People with severe depression respond more rapidly and more consistently to medication. Those with recurring depression, including bipolar disorder, may need to stay on medication to prevent or lessen further episodes.

-- Many patients need psychotherapy (talk therapy) to deal with the psychological or interpersonal problems often associated with their illness.

-- Other biological treatments can be helpful. For example, electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) may be a very effective treatment for the most severe depressions. Research is also being done on the use of light for the treatment of depression.

-- Early intervention may lessen severity of symptoms and shorten the episode.

COSTS OF DEPRESSION CAN BE REDUCED

When diagnosed early in the course of the illness, depressed people usually can be treated on an outpatient basis and improve productivity, avoid lost work time, and reduce high costs for:

-- Prolonged treatment,

-- Hospitalization,

-- Treatment of other physical and mental disorders resulting from untreated depression.

HELP CAN BE RECEIVED FROM

-- Physicians

-- Mental health specialists

-- Employee assistance programs (EAPs)

-- Health maintenance organizations

-- Community mental health centers

-- Hospital departments of psychiatry or outpatient psychiatric clinics

-- University- or medical school-affiliated programs

-- State hospital outpatient clinics

-- Family service/social agencies

-- Private clinics and facilities

-- Support and self-help groups

DEPRESSED PERSONS MAY NEED HELP TO GET HELP

The very nature of depressive illnesses can interfere with a person's ability or wish to get help. Depression saps energy and self-esteem and makes a person feel tired, worthless, helpless, and hopeless.

Therefore,

-- Seriously depressed people need encouragement from family and friends to seek treatment to ease their pain.

-- Some people need even more help, becoming so depressed, they must be taken for treatment.

-- Don't ignore suicidal thoughts, words or acts. Seek professional help immediately.

DEPRESSION AWARENESS, RECOGNITION, AND TREATMENT (D/ART) PROGRAM

"Depression--Effective Treatments Are Available" was developed for the DEPRESSION Awareness, Recognition, and Treatment (D/ART) program. D/ART is a professional and public education program sponsored by NIMH in collaboration with private organizations and citizens. D/ART's goals include the alleviation of symptoms through effective treatment for the millions of Americans who suffer from depressive disorders each year. The program is based on more than 40 years of research on the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders. For more information about the D/ART program and program materials, write: D/ART, NIMH, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10C-03, Rockville, MD 20857.

For additional free brochures (some also available in Spanish) call: 1-800-421-4211

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Public Health Service

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Mental Health

NIH Publication No. 93-3590

Printed 1993

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