Common questions

What is a simple definition of clinical depression?

What is a simple definition of clinical depression?

: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal …

What are 2 causes of clinical depression?

There’s no single cause of depression. It can occur for a variety of reasons and it has many different triggers. For some people, an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, can be the cause. Different causes can often combine to trigger depression.

Can you ever get rid of clinical depression?

While depression can be treated, and symptoms can be alleviated, depression cannot be “cured.” Instead, remission is the goal. There’s no universally accepted definition of remission, as it varies for each person. People may still have symptoms or impaired functioning with remission.

What is an effective treatment for clinical depression?

Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy or psychological therapy. Different types of psychotherapy can be effective for depression, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy. Your mental health professional may also recommend other types of therapies.

Is clinical depression a disability?

Currently, the law considers the effects of an impairment on the individual. For example, someone with a mild form of depression with minor effects may not be covered. However, someone with severe depression with significant effects on their daily life is likely to be considered as having a disability.

Are you born with depression or does it develop?

This could mean that in most cases of depression, around 50% of the cause is genetic, and around 50% is unrelated to genes (psychological or physical factors). Or it could mean that in some cases, the tendency to become depressed is almost completely genetic, and in other cases it is not really genetic at all.

What is the most successful treatment for depression?

Many experts agree that a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment for severe clinical depression.

Can depression change your personality?

Conclusions: The findings suggest that self-reported personality traits do not change after a typical episode of major depression. Future studies are needed to determine whether such change occurs following more severe, chronic, or recurrent episodes of depression.

Can clinical depression be genetic?

Depression is known to run in families, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing this disease. However, research into the genetics of depression is in its early stages, and very little is known for certain about the genetic basis of the disease.

Which is the official peer reviewed journal of Psychosomatic Medicine?

Dedicated to the Integration of Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors of Medicine. Published since 1939, Psychosomatic Medicine is the official peer-reviewed journal and member benefit of the American Psychosomatic Society.

What do you need to know about clinical depression?

To diagnose clinical depression, many doctors use the symptom criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Signs and symptoms of clinical depression may include: Feelings of sadness,…

Is there a depression scale in the public domain?

The HAM-D (PDF, 22KB) is in the public domain and no permission is required for use. The 10-item Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) measures severity of depression in individuals 18 years and older. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale.

What did Helen Dunbar think about psychosomatic medicine?

A Dante scholar, theologian and medical doctor, Dunbar hoped psychosomatic medicine would integrate the treatment of spirtual, emotional and physical suffering into a single framework. Psychosomatic Medicine, September-October 1959. W1 P582. Helen Flanders Dunbar (1902-1959).

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Ruth Doyle