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Depression

The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment | Prevention

What Are the Symptoms?

For major depression, you may experience five or more of the following for at least a two-week period:

  • Persistent sadness, pessimism.
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, or hopelessness.
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, including sex.
  • Difficulty concentrating and complaints of poor memory.
  • Worsening of coexisting chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes.
  • Insomnia or oversleeping.
  • Weight gain or loss.
  • Fatigue, lack of energy.
  • Anxiety, agitation, irritability.
  • Thoughts of suicide or death.
  • Slow speech; slow movements.
  • Headache, stomachache, and digestive problems.
In children and adolescents:
  • Insomnia, fatigue, headache, stomachache, dizziness.
  • Apathy, social withdrawal, weight loss.
  • Drug abuse or alcohol abuse, a drop in school performance, difficulty concentrating.
  • Isolation from family and friends.
For dysthymia (minor but long-term depression), symptoms are less intense and fewer in number, but long-lasting.

Call Your Doctor If:
  • You or a loved one have suicidal thoughts, or have other signs of either major depression or dysthymia; help is available.
  • You are considering alternative or complementary treatments. It's important that your doctor be aware of all aspects of your treatment.
NOTE: There is a distinct difference between feeling "depressed" and having a depressive illness. If you have low spirits for a while, don't be concerned. However, if you feel you can't lift yourself out of your misery, seek help.

Medically reviewed by Michael Aronson, MD, August 2005.

SOURCES: Miniussi C,; Bonato C, et al., "Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimluation (rTMS) at high and low frequency: an efficacious therapy for major drug-resistant depression?," Clinical Neurophysiology, May 2005, vol. 116(5):1062-71. American Psychiatric. Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. 2000. Shelton C., "Long-term management of major depressive disorder: are differences among antidepressant treatments meaningful?," Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2004, vol. 65 Suppl 17:29-33. Hu Z,; Yang X, et al., "Herb-drug interactions: a literature review." Drugs. 2005, vol. 65(9), pp 1239-82. Szegedi, A.; et al, "Acute treatment of moderate to severe depression with hypericum extract WS 5570 (St John's wort): randomised controlled double blind non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine." British Medical Journal, March 5, 2005, vol. 330(7490):503. Stahl, S.; et al, "Differences in Mechanisms of Action between Current and Future Antidepressants," Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2003; vol. 64: suppl. 13 pg13-17

The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment | Prevention
© 2005 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
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