Clinical Depression

Depression is common and can strike any one of us at any
time. According to the Mental Health Foundation 10% of the
population in the UK and USA will experience some form of
depression every year.

There are several different types
of depression ranging from mild to severe, and within each
type, the symptoms, their intensity and duration, will all
vary from person to person.

Milder forms of depression may
have little impact on someone's life and will often
spontaneously disappear after a relatively short period of
time.

Bipolar Depression is characterised by intense
fluctuations between mania and depression, Seasonal
Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of depression occurring
during the winter months and is believed to be related to a
lack of sunlight, Post Natal Depression can affect a woman
after the birth of a baby, but the most common form of
depression is Clinical Depression, sometimes called
Unipolar depression or major depression.

Clinical depression can be defined as a depression so
severe as to require the intervention of a health
professional. It is much more than feeling down, or fed
up, something that all of us experience at times. Someone
who is clinically depressed can't just escape from it, and
can't switch it off so if the symptoms of depression
persist for more than a couple of weeks and they interfere
with a person's normal routines on a daily basis, perhaps
affecting their eating and sleeping patterns, their work,
relationships or their ability to take pleasure in
activities they once enjoyed, and it cannot be attributed
to an obvious cause such as bereavement, or alcohol or
substance abuse, then clinical depression could be
diagnosed.

Intervention is necessary in order to help
someone with clinical depression get back to normal as
without treatment, it could go on indefinitely.

Symptoms of clinical depression

There are numerous symptoms associated with clinical
depression but the most common include:

. Low moods and sadness for most of the time
. Disinterest and lack of pleasure in most activities
including sex
. Weight gain or loss with associated increased or
diminished appetite
. Sleep disturbances - both insomnia and hypersomnia
. Feeling exhausted when waking up
. Irritability, agitation and restlessness
. Feeling guilty, worthless and/or helpless
. Inability to concentrate and focus
. Indecisiveness
. Fatigue and loss of energy
. Physical aches and pains or digestive problems
. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and they will vary
with each individual. In other words, there is not a
single identifiable set of symptoms that indicate clinical
depression and the only way to ensure a correct diagnosis
is to seek the expert help of a GP or other health
professional who will ask about the symptoms, their
duration and severity, personal circumstances and medical
history, and any cases of depression recurring in the
family. The most appropriate treatment options can then be
considered.

Treatment Options

Clinical depression will normally require the use of
anti-depressants for a period of time, usually for six
months or so and sometimes longer. It can take several
weeks for any medication to take effect so it is important
to persevere with them even if there is no initial
improvement. There are several different types of
antidepressants and the effect of any medication, both
positive and negative, will vary but as a general
guideline, if there is no improvement after six weeks or
so, or if there are significant side effects, then the GP
may prescribe another medication until one is found that
suits the individual. Antidepressants should never be
stopped suddenly as this can be harmful, it is necessary to
reduce the dose slowly over a period of time under the
guidance of a qualified physician.

Talking therapies and counselling may also be an option for
mild to moderate depression. These types of therapies can
be helpful in changing negative thinking patterns and
behaviours that contribute to the state of depression.
Talking through problems and looking at issues in more
depth can offer new insights and possible coping strategies.

For extremely severe and persistent depression that hasn't
responded to other treatments, ECT is a possibility, which
involves giving short electrical shocks to the brain.

Conclusion

There is no one single cause of clinical depression and no
way of knowing who will develop it. Certainly, some groups
of people appear more at risk of becoming clinically
depressed than others, such as the socially isolated, the
long term sick and disabled, single parents, and the
unemployed. Low levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin
and essential fatty acids are found in people who are
depressed suggesting biological factors can be involved and
depressive disorders appear to run in families indicating
that genetics could play a part. Sometimes, even the way
we view the world or how we think about ourselves can cloud
our perception and trigger depression. The important thing
is to seek advice if it begins to affect your daily life
because regardless of its cause, help is available,
depression can be treated and life can return to normal.

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Depression and anxiety are serious conditions that can
strike anyone at anytime. For more information about
depression and selp help come and visit
http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk