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Depression has two common meanings.
The first meaning defines an emotional state, synonymous
with sadness, unhappiness, being blue, or being down.
The second meaning defines a clinical state of illness.
This illness is characterized by the emotional state of
depression, but often other symptoms are present. The
most prominent of these symptoms may not be the
depressed emotional mood. Depression, the illness,
includes changes in appetite, disturbance of sleep,
diminished ability to concentrate, diminished energy and
the inability to enjoy things that are usually
pleasurable. Sometimes irritability or one of the other
symptoms of depression is the predominant symptom of
clinical depression.
Health professionals know that clinical depressive
illness runs in families and is more common in women
than in men. Lifetime prevalence rate for a Major
Depressive Disorder is 10-25% in women and 5-12% in men.
If you have one parent with a depressive disorder your
chance of having a depressive disorder doubles.
We also know that certain life events and certain
personality styles are associated with depressive
disorders. Depressive disorders have multiple causes
that include physical illness, drug use, and certain
life events and situations.
Depressive disorders can be treated. Treatment is based
on a thorough individual assessment. Treatment
modalities include medication, individual therapy and
lifestyle changes.
Depression, the emotional state, may not be part of a
clinical depression but may still be very significant.
It may point towards a significant life problem or
situation that needs attention or perhaps a new
direction or decision.
If you have what you think might be significant
depression, we recommend you talk with a professional
such as those at the Counseling and Human Development
Center here on the U.S.C. campus. Mental health
professionals are trained to work with people who are
unhappy and with those suffering from a clinical
depression. You can make an appointment by calling
777-5223.
Additional links about depression:
American Psychological Association On-line; Depression
www.apa.org/pubinfo/depression.html
National Institute of Mental Health; Depression
www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm
E-Medicine; Depression
www.emedicine.com/med/topic532.htm
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