"Following remission of symptoms, continuation treatment with medication and/or psychotherapy for at least several months may be recommended by the psychiatrist, given the high risk of relapse and recurrence of depression."

"For many depressed patients, especially those with moderate to severe depression, a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy is the preferred approach to treatment."

Types of Depression


Just like other illnesses, such as heart disease, depression comes in different forms. This booklet briefly describes three of the most common types of depressive disorders. However, within these types, there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence.

Major depression (or major depressive disorder) is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptoms list below) that interferes with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. A major depressive episode may occur only once; but more commonly, several episodes may occur in a lifetime. Chronic major depression may require a person to continue treatment indefinitely.

A less severe type of depression, dysthymia (or dysthymic disorder), involves long lasting, chronic symptoms that do not seriously disable, but keep one from functioning well or feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.

Another type of depressive illness is bipolar disorder (or manic depressive illness). Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression), often with periods of normal mood in between. Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but usually they are gradual. When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of depression. When in the manic cycle, the individual may be overactive, over talkative, and have a great deal of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, the individual in a manic phase may feel elated, full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic sprees and unsafe sex. Mania, left untreated, may worsen to a psychotic state.

"Treatment for Minor DepressionIn a new approach to research on minor depression, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a four-year study to determine the safety and effectiveness of St John's wort, a common herbal supplement, and citalopram, a standard antidepressant, compared to placebo."

Depression and its Cure
Depression Basics Some people say that depression feels like a black curtain of despair coming down over their lives. Many people feel like they have no energy and can't concentrate. Others feel irritable all the time for no apparent reason. The symptoms vary from person to person, but if you feel "down" for more than two weeks, and these feelings are interfering with your daily life, you may be clinically depressed. Most people who have gone through one episode of depression will, sooner or l
Serotonin Brain Research Sheds Light on Chemical Pathways
A new study to be published suggests that drugs that treat schizophrenia, depression and other mental disorder and that target a particular protein on brain cells might not be triggering the most therapeutic response possible. The study examined the serotonin 2A receptor, a protein on brain cells sensitive to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Researchers were interested in learning more about the early chemical events that happen inside neurons when the 2A receptor is stimulated by serotonin and b
We can ask why do people kill, and rarely find an answer since we must look at a mountain of
truly are We can ask why do people kill, and rarely find an answer since we must look at a mountain of history information to find out what the links truly are. We know that people suffer mental illnesses and some are dangerous while others are not. We can also look at the criminal justice system and see that the system is a failure in many areas, and there are people in prison that are innocent or should not be there at all. We can look at all the examples in our history and see that these
Now I know.
Well what a way to bring in the New Year. Last night Dh and I had our friend Rob over and made some Steaks and Red Potatoes, but while they were cooking I cut up some Mild Cheddar Cheese and Deer Sausage which I was pretty sure was Gluten-Free. All was good until right before I was going to go to bed, then the Vice-Grip on my Intestines decided to tighten and in the bathroom I went. My stomach pain was so bad it actually kept me awake in bed for a while hence why I am so tired now. So now
100 Things We Didnt Know Last Year
100 Things We Didnt Know Last Year The BBC News site has a list of100 things we didnt know last year. Here are some of my favorites: 5. Cloudy apple juice is healthier than clear, containing almost double the antioxidants which protect against heart disease and cancer. Hmm, exactly the opposite of urine. 17. Two cups of spearmint tea a day is thought to control excessive hair growth for women. This will not stop your wife from obsessing over every hair in front of a super-magnified m

"Treatment for Minor DepressionIn a new approach to research on minor depression, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a four-year study to determine the safety and effectiveness of St John's wort, a common herbal supplement, and citalopram, a standard antidepressant, compared to placebo."

Positive Stress

"In some families, depressive disorders seem to occur generation after generation; however, they can also occur in people with no family history of these illnesses."

Echocardiographs Stress Testers Treadmill Various

"In some families, depressive disorders seem to occur generation after generation; however, they can also occur in people with no family history of these illnesses."

Causes Of Stress Among College Students

"If a child's depression has been caused wholly or in part by psychological factors, medication may relieve the depression, but the underlying cause will not be "cured" by medication alone."

Stress Articles

"Herbal supplements frequently used that have not been evaluated in large-scale clinical trials are ephedra, gingko biloba, echinacea, and ginseng."