Depression

Summary

Depression is a serious medical illness. It’s more than just a feeling of being sad or “blue” for a few days. If you are one of the more than 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include:

• Feeling sad or “empty”
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
• Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
• Feeling very tired
• Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is a disorder of the brain. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression can happen at any age, but it often begins in teens and young adults. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.

There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants, talk therapy, or both.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

National Institute of Mental Health

Treatments and Therapies

• 8 Things To Know about Depression and Complementary Health Approaches National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Antidepressants: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Brain Stimulation Therapies National Institute of Mental Health
• Depression Treatment Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Psychotherapies National Institute of Mental Health
• St. John’s Wort and Depression National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Therapy and Counseling American Academy of Family Physicians
• When Sadness Lingers: Understanding and Treating Depression National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• American Psychiatric Association American Psychiatric Association
• Find Your Local NAMI NAMI
• FindTreatment.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Help for Mental Illnesses National Institute of Mental Health
• National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health
• Psychologist Locator American Psychological Association

Related Issues

• Chronic Illness and Mental Health: Recognizing and Treating Depression National Institute of Mental Health
• Depression in Black Americans Mental Health America
• The Link Between Migraine, Depression and Anxiety American Migraine Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Depression National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dysthymic Disorder National Institutes of Health

Women

• Depression Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Depression and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
• Depression in Women: 5 Things You Should Know National Institute of Mental Health
• Depression in Women: Understanding the Gender Gap Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Specifics

• Depression National Cancer Institute
• Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease American Academy of Family Physicians
• Depression and Caregiving Family Caregiver Alliance
• Depression in the Workplace Mental Health America
• Lupus and Depression: Know the Signs and How to Get Help Lupus Foundation of America
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) American Academy of Family Physicians
• Treatment-Resistant Depression Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• What Does the Term “Clinical Depression” Mean? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Start Here

• Depression National Institute of Mental Health
• Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Help with Depression American Psychiatric Association

Patient Handouts

• Depression Medical Encyclopedia
• Depression – stopping your medicines Medical Encyclopedia
• Depression on older adults Medical Encyclopedia
• Dysthymia Medical Encyclopedia
• Heart disease and depression Medical Encyclopedia
• Learning about depression Medical Encyclopedia
• Major depression Medical Encyclopedia
• Major depression with psychotic features Medical Encyclopedia

Living With

• Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Older Adults

• Depression and Older Adults National Institute on Aging
• Easing Depression in Older Adult National Institutes of Health

Statistics and Research

• Depression in Older Adults Mental Health America
• Major Depression among Adults National Institute of Mental Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Depression Screening National Library of Medicine

Health Check Tools

• Depression Screening: Questionnaire Department of Veterans Affairs

Genetics

• Depression: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Encyclopedia

• Electroconvulsive therapy Medical Encyclopedia

Men

• Male Depression: Understanding the Issues Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Journal Articles

• Depression

Children

• Taking Your Child to a Therapist Nemours Foundation
• What to Do When You Feel Sad Nemours Foundation

Teenagers

• Teen Depression: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine