"Questions about any antidepressant prescribed, or problems that may be related to the medication, should be discussed with the doctor."

"In the United States, researchers estimate that in any given one year period, depressive illnesses affect 12 percent of women (more than 12 million women) and nearly 7 percent of men (more than six million men)."

Men and Depression


Depression is a serious medical condition that affects the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way one eats and sleeps. It affects how one thinks about things, and one's self perception. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition one can will or wish away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely pull themselves together and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. However, appropriate treatment, often involving medication and/or short term psychotherapy, can help most people who suffer from depression.

Depression can strike anyone regardless of age, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, or gender; however, large scale research studies have found that depression is about twice as common in women as in men. In the United States, researchers estimate that in any given one year period, depressive illnesses affect 12 percent of women (more than 12 million women) and nearly 7 percent of men (more than six million men).3 But important questions remain to be answered about the causes underlying this gender difference. We still do not know if depression is truly less common among men, or if men are just less likely than women to recognize, acknowledge, and seek help for depression.

In focus groups conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to assess depression awareness, men described their own symptoms of depression without realizing that they were depressed. Notably, many were unaware that physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain, can be associated with depression. In addition, men were concerned that seeing a mental health professional or going to a mental health clinic would have a negative impact at work if their employer or colleagues found out. They feared that being labeled with a diagnosis of mental illness would cost them the respect of their family and friends, or their standing in the community.

Over the past 20 years, biomedical research, including genetics and neuroimaging, has helped to shed light on depression and other mental disordersincreasing our understanding of the brain, how its biochemistry can go awry, and how to alleviate the suffering caused by mental illness. Brain imaging technologies are now allowing scientists to see how effective treatment with medication or psychotherapy is reflected in changes in brain activity.4 As research continues to reveal that depressive disorders are real and treatable, and no greater a sign of weakness than cancer or any other serious illness, more and more men with depression may feel empowered to seek treatment and find improved quality of life.

"Efforts are underway to develop a skin patch system for one of the newer MAOIs, selegiline."

Beautiful Walls

kellershohn posted a photo:

"The Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory on February 10, 2000 that stated that St John's wort appears to affect an important metabolic pathway that is used by many drugs prescribed to treat conditions such as AIDS, heart disease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and rejection of transplants and therefore, health care providers should alert their patients about these potential drug interactions."

Cognitive And Behavioral Therapies

"The Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory on February 10, 2000 that stated that St John's wort appears to affect an important metabolic pathway that is used by many drugs prescribed to treat conditions such as AIDS, heart disease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and rejection of transplants and therefore, health care providers should alert their patients about these potential drug interactions."

Electromagnetic Therapy

"Patients often are tempted to stop medication too soon ans they may feel better and think they no longer need the medication or they may think the medication isn't helping at all."

What Is Complementary Therapy

"Genetics research indicates that risk for depression results from the influence of multiple genes acting together with environmental or other nongenetic factors."

Diflucan Therapy Disseminated Valley Fever

"Recently, concerns have been raised that the use of antidepressant medications themselves may induce suicidal behavior in youths."