Managing Depression
What is depression?
Depression is not just feeling sad nor "fed up"—and it's certainly not a character flaw.1,2 Depression, also called clinical depression or major depressive disorder, is a common, serious mood disorder that affects how you feel, think and are able to function in your day-to-day life.3 Here, we will identify the symptoms of depression, its various forms, including postpartum, bipolar, and psychotic depression, along with common causes and options for depression medications, and other information about how to deal with depression.
What does depression feel like?
Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of depression symptoms ranging from mild to severe.2 The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies depressive episodes as mild, moderate and severe major depressive disorders based on the number, type and severity of symptoms and your ability to function.3
Signs of depression include:
- Lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness
- Loss of interest in things or activities you used to enjoy
- Feeling tired or sleeping all of the time or sleeping poorly
- Aches and pains
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of sex drive
- Trouble concentrating
- Restlessness or irritability
- Memory lapses or trouble making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide
People with chronic depression may experience persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach problems or pain, that do not respond to treatment or have no other causes. For a health care provider to diagnose you with depression, you must have symptoms for at least two weeks.
What causes depression?
Depression is caused by a complex combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors.4 It can occur on its own or it can happen with other serious medical illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease. In these cases, depression can worsen these diseases.4 Sometimes medications may cause side effects that contribute to depression. In addition, major life changes or traumas can bring on depression.4
Types of depression
Forms of depression differ slightly, or they may develop under unique circumstances, such as:
- Persistent depressive disorder
- Perinatal (before or after birth) or postpartum depression
- Psychotic depression
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Bipolar depression
What is persistent depressive disorder?
A person diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for two years or more.1
What is postpartum depression?
Women with perinatal or postpartum depression experience full-blown major depression during pregnancy or after delivery.1 This is different from the "baby blues," which are mild symptoms of depression that clear up in about two weeks.5 The feelings of sadness, anxiety or exhaustion that accompany perinatal and postpartum depression may make it difficult for mothers to complete daily care activities for themselves or for their loved ones.
The postpartum period also requires many adjustments for fathers that can increase the risk for depression. Male postpartum depression or "sad dad syndrome" is also a crippling depression. It's estimated to occur in up to 25% of men in the first two months after their children are born.6
What is psychotic depression?
When a person is severely depressed with psychotic depression, they lose touch with reality. This is exhibited by psychotic episodes, which involves having false beliefs or delusions, or hearing or seeing things that aren't there.1
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is the onset of depression during the winter months or where there is less natural sunlight. This form of depression, typically accompanied by social withdrawal, fatigue and weight gain, predictably returns every year.6
What is bipolar depression?
Bipolar disorder, once known as manic depression, is different from depression. Someone with bipolar disorder symptoms can experience instances of extremely low moods that meet the criteria for major depression or bipolar depression. Unlike other types of depression, a person with bipolar disorder also experiences extreme euphoric moods, also called highs, hypomania or mania.1
Is depression genetic?
Depression does not have a clear pattern of running in families. However, people with a biologically closely linked relative (like a parent, sister or brother) with depression appear to have a two to three times greater risk of developing the condition than the general public.7 But know that having a family member with depression is not a predictor of depression. Many people who develop depression do not have a family history of depression, and many people with a relative with depression never develop the disorder themselves.7
Depression in children
Children are not immune to depression. Like adults, if children are sad, irritable or no longer enjoy things over weeks or months, these may be signs that they are suffering from depression. Oftentimes, people overlook depression in children. Multiple studies in the U.S. indicate that roughly 40 percent of children and adolescents with depressive disorders are not treated.8
Although common symptoms of depression in children and adolescents mimic those of adults, children also may have more physical complaints, such as frequent headaches or stomach aches.9 Depressed children and adolescents may use alcohol or drugs as a way to medicate themselves and feel better.9 There has been some speculation of a link between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. It's true that children with ADHD are at risk for depression, but treatment of ADHD might lessen the risk for depression, therefore the conditions do not necessarily go hand in hand.10
If you think your child or teenager might be depressed, it is important to seek help through your health care provider, school counselor or other qualified professional. They can help you find the right professional to assess, diagnose and treat your child.9
What is the difference between depression vs. anxiety?
Depression and anxiety disorders are different. Anxiety is characterized by lengthy preparation for a real or perceived threat, and it can happen with or without depression.11 However, people with an anxiety disorder often experience symptoms similar to those of depression, such as nervousness, irritability and problems sleeping and concentrating.12 There is no evidence one disorder causes the other, but there is clear evidence that many people suffer from both.12
How to treat depression
Overcoming depression depends on the type of depression and its severity. For most people, anti-depression therapies such as psychotherapy and medications give better results together than either alone.13 Brain stimulation therapies and complementary and alternative medicine may also be helpful in some cases when combined with other treatments.
PsychotherapyExamples of evidence-based types of psychotherapy include:13
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which involves changing negative thinking patterns associated with depression, and learning positive coping mechanisms.
- Interpersonal therapy focuses on improving problems in personal relationships and other changes in your life that may be contributing to depressive disorder.
- Psychodynamic therapy helps you recognize and understand behavior and feelings that are rooted in experiences and unconscious processes, which you then work to resolve.
Medications13
For some people, antidepressants will reduce or control symptoms. However, these medications may take up to four weeks to begin having an effect, and up to 12 weeks to reach full effect. Also, it's common to have to try various medications or doses of medications to find out what works for you.
| Therapeutic group | How they work/ when they're used | Medication names |
|---|---|---|
| Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) | Increase levels of serotonin, a brain chemical |
|
| Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) | Increase levels of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine |
|
| Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) | Increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain |
|
| Second-generation antipsychotics or atypical antipsychotics | Used for treatment-resistant depression |
|
| Tricyclic antidepressants | Older medications that are used when other antidepressants have not worked |
|
| Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) | Older medications that can be effective when other antidepressants haven't worked |
|
| Therapeutic group | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) |
|---|---|
| How they work/ when they're used | Increase levels of serotonin, a brain chemical |
| Medication names |
|
| Therapeutic group | Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) |
|---|---|
| How they work/ when they're used | Increase levels of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine |
| Medication names |
|
| Therapeutic group | Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) |
|---|---|
| How they work/ when they're used | Increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain |
| Medication names |
|
| Therapeutic group | Tricyclic antidepressants |
|---|---|
| How they work/ when they're used | Older medications that are used when other antidepressants have not worked |
| Medication names |
|
| Therapeutic group | Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) |
|---|---|
| How they work/ when they're used | Older medications that can be effective when other antidepressants haven't worked |
| Medication names |
|
Brain stimulation therapies14
For some people with depression, brain stimulation therapies may be effective, but they are not typically used unless other treatments haven't worked. In some cases, these therapies or their use in depression is still experimental:
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) involves transmitting short electrical impulses into the brain.
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a type of brain stimulation that uses a magnet, instead of an electrical current, to activate the brain.
- Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) borrows certain aspects from both ECT and rTMS. It uses magnetic pulses instead of electricity to stimulate a precise target in the brain.
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), originally used to treat epilepsy, involves implanting a device under the skin that sends electrical pulses through a prominent nerve in the body.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) uses a pair of electrodes (implanted in the brain and controlled by a generator implanted in the chest) to provide continuous stimulation at a level and frequency customized to the individual.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) natural depression remedies13
Relying solely on CAM methods is not enough to treat depression. But some CAM treatments may be useful when combined with psychotherapy and medication:
- Exercise, which increases endorphins and stimulates norepinephrine, can improve your mood.
- Folate can help antidepressants work better in some people.
- St. John's Wort has similar chemical properties to some SSRIs. However, there are substantial risks to combining the two medications. St. John's Wort should never be taken with a prescription antidepressant.
In summary, depression is a very real disease and is best treated through a combination of therapy and medications. The key to successful treatment is finding the right mental health care provider and knowing that there is not a one size fits all solution to this illness. It might take a while to find the right therapy, but once you and your provider find it, you will feel better.
Published on October 18, 2019
Sources:
1. National Institute of Mental Health. Depression https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml Retrieved 8/20/2019.
2. National Health Service. Overview Clinical Depression. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-depression/# Retrieved 8/20/2019.
3. National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). Depression: The Treatment and Management of Depression in Adults (Updated Edition). Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society; 2010. (NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 90.) Appendix 11, the classification of depression and depression rating scales/questionnaires. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK63740/
4. National Institute of Mental Health. Depression: Overview; Risk Factors https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml#part_145396 Retrieved 8/26/2019.
5. March of Dimes. Baby Blues. https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/baby-blues-after-pregnancy.aspx Retrieved 8/26/2019.
6. Kim, P., & Swain, J. E. (2007). Sad dads: paternal postpartum depression. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 4(2), 35-47.
7. National Institute of Health. Genetics Home Reference. Your guide to understanding genetic conditions. Depression. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/depression#inheritance Retrieved 8/27/2019.
8. Bonin, L., Moreland, C., Overview of prevention and treatment for pediatric depression In UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-prevention-and-treatment-for-pediatric-depression?search=Depression%20in%20chidren&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1 Retrieved 8/27/2019.
9. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Depression in Children and Teens No. 4; Updated October 2018 https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/The-Depressed-Child-004.aspx Retrieved 8/27/2019.
10. Babinski, D., Waschbusch, D. and Waxmonsky, J. 2017. The Development of Depression in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Exploring the Impact of Pubertal Development and Treatment Effects in Girls Versus Boys Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Volume 56, Issue 10, S322
11. Renna, M., O'Toole, M., Spaeth, P., Lekander, M., and Mennin, D. (2018) The association between anxiety, traumatic stress, and obsessive-compulsive disorders and chronic inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (35) 11. 1081-1094.
12. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Understand the Facts > Depression. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression Retrieved 8/28/2019.
13. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Depression. https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression/Treatment Retrieved 8/28/2019.
14. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Brain Stimulation Therapies. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml Retrieved 8/28/2019.