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How are people diagnosed with depression


Depression Diagnosis and Screening: What Doctors Look For

Written by Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD

In this Article

  • How Does a Doctor Make a Depression Diagnosis?
  • What Does the Doctor Look for to Make a Depression Diagnosis?
  • How Can Depression Symptoms Lead to a Depression Diagnosis?
  • Are There Physical Signs of Depression?
  • Which Lab Tests Can Help Make the Depression Diagnosis?
  • How Can I Help the Doctor Make a Proper Diagnosis?
  • How Do I Know When to Seek Help?

It used to be that all mood disorders were lumped together. Now, a doctor will make a distinction about the particular disorder or subtype of depression that a patient has. For example, a doctor will determine whether a patient has major depression, chronic depression including dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder, or some other type of clinical depression.

It can be hard to talk to your doctor if you think you might be depressed. You may feel embarrassed or isolated. But you’re not as alone as you might think. About 1 in 5 people will have some sort of mental illness in their lifetime.

In addition, depression rarely goes away by itself and may even get worse without treatment. So it’s important to reach out when you notice symptoms. Your primary care doctor is a good place to start. They’ll be able to help you sift through your symptoms and perhaps refer you to a mental health expert like a psychologist, psychiatrist, or a therapist who can help you further.  

How Does a Doctor Make a Depression Diagnosis?

We've gotten used to doctors using special blood tests or other complex laboratory tests to help them make a conclusive diagnosis. But most lab tests aren’t very helpful when it comes to diagnosing depression. In fact, talking with the patient may be the most important diagnostic tool the doctor has. The recommendation is that doctors routinely screen everyone for depression. This screening might take place during a visit for a chronic illness, at an annual wellness visit, or during a pregnancy or postpartum visit.

To effectively diagnose and treat depression, the doctor must hear about specific symptoms of depression. They may use a series of standard questions to screen for depression. While a physical examination will reveal a patient's overall state of health, by talking with a patient, a doctor can learn about other things that are relevant to making a depression diagnosis. A patient, for example, can report on such things as daily moods, behaviors, and lifestyle habits.

A depression diagnosis is often difficult to make because clinical depression can show up in so many different ways. For example, some clinically depressed people seem to withdraw into a state of apathy. Others may become irritable or even agitated. Eating and sleeping patterns can be exaggerated. Clinical depression may cause someone to sleep or eat to excess, or almost eliminate those activities.

Observable or behavioral symptoms of clinical depression also may sometimes be minimal despite profound inner turmoil. Depression can be an all-encompassing disorder, and it affects a person's body, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in varying ways.

What Does the Doctor Look for to Make a Depression Diagnosis?

A doctor can rule out other conditions that may cause depression with a physical examination, a personal interview, and lab tests. The doctor will also do a complete diagnostic evaluation, discussing any family history of depression or other mental illness.

Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms, including how long you've had them, when they started, and how they were treated. They’ll ask about the way you feel, including whether you have any symptoms of depression such as:

  • Sadness or depressed mood most of the day or almost every day
  • Loss of enjoyment in things that were once pleasurable
  • Major change in weight (gain or loss of more than 5% of weight within a month) or appetite
  • Insomnia or excessive sleep almost every day
  • Physical restlessness or sense of being run-down that others can notice
  • Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
  • Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness or excessive guilt almost every day
  • Problems with concentration or making decisions almost every day
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide, suicide plan, or suicide attempt

How Can Depression Symptoms Lead to a Depression Diagnosis?

To be diagnosed with major depression, you must have at least five of the symptoms listed above with at least one of the first two nearly daily for at least 2 weeks.

Depression symptoms can last weeks, months, or sometimes years. They can affect personality and interfere with social relationships and work habits, potentially making it difficult for others to have empathy for you. Some symptoms are so disabling that they interfere significantly with your ability to function. In very severe cases, people with depression may be unable to eat, maintain their hygiene, or even get out of bed.

Episodes may happen only once in a lifetime or may be recurrent, chronic, or longstanding. In some cases, they seem to last forever. Symptoms may appear to be precipitated by life crises. At other times, they may seem to happen at random.

Clinical depression commonly goes  along with other medical illnesses such as heart disease or cancer and worsens the prognosis for these illnesses.

Are There Physical Signs of Depression?

Yes. In fact, a great many people with depression come to their doctor first with only physical issues. You might notice:

  • Back pain
  • Headaches
  • Joint pain
  • Limb pain
  • Gut problems (digestion issues and belly pain)
  • Constant tiredness
  • Sleep problems
  • Slowing of physical movement and thinking

You might notice these symptoms and signs even before you notice the mental health symptoms of depression, or you might notice them at the same time. Your doctor can help you figure out the source of your symptoms.

Which Lab Tests Can Help Make the Depression Diagnosis?

After reviewing the information from your appointment, including the signs and symptoms, patient history, family history, and physician exam, your doctor may ask for some lab tests to rule out a physical condition that may be causing your symptoms.  Certain viruses, medicines, hormonal or vitamin deficiencies, and illnesses can cause depression-like symptoms.  Your doctor will also want to review all medications you’re taking as well as the alcohol or recreational drugs you may be using.

How Can I Help the Doctor Make a Proper Diagnosis?

Before your appointment, write down your concerns about depression and specific symptoms of depression you might have. It’s also helpful to get an in-depth family history from relatives before meeting with your doctor. This information can help the doctor make an accurate diagnosis and ensure effective treatment. Before your visit, think about and write down:

  • Your mental and physical health concerns
  • Symptoms you've noticed
  • Unusual behaviors you've had
  • Past illnesses
  • Your family history of depression
  • Medications you’re taking now and in the past, including both prescribed and over-the-counter medications
  • Unusual side effects of medications you are taking or have taken
  • Natural dietary supplements you’re taking
  • Your lifestyle habits (exercise, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use)
  • Your sleep habits
  • Causes of stress in your life (marriage, work, social)
  • Questions you have about depression and depression medications

How Do I Know When to Seek Help?

The biggest hurdle to diagnosing and treating depression is recognizing that someone has it. Unfortunately, about half of the people who have depression never get diagnosed or treated. And not getting treatment can be life threatening: More than 10% of people who have depression take their own lives.

  • When depression is hurting your life, such as causing trouble with relationships, work issues, or family disputes, and there isn't a clear solution to these problems, you should seek help to keep things from getting worse, especially if these feelings last for any length of time.
  • If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or feelings, seek help right away.

Depression Guide

  1. Overview & Causes
  2. Symptoms & Types
  3. Diagnosis & Treatment
  4. Recovering & Managing
  5. Finding Help

NIMH » Depression

What is depression?

Everyone feels sad or low sometimes, but these feelings usually pass with a little time. Depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is different. It can cause severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. It is an illness that can affect anyone—regardless of age, race, income, culture, or education. Research suggests that genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors play a role in depression.

Depression may occur with other mental disorders and other illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain. Depression can make these conditions worse, and vice versa. Sometimes medications taken for these illnesses cause side effects that contribute to depression symptoms.

What are the different types of depression?

Two common forms of depression are:

  • Major depression, which includes symptoms of depression most of the time for at least 2 weeks that typically interfere with one’s ability to work, sleep, study, and eat.
  • Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), which often includes less severe symptoms of depression that last much longer, typically for at least 2 years.

Other forms of depression include:

  • Perinatal depression, which occurs when a woman experiences major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression).
  • Seasonal affective disorder, which comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in late fall and early winter and going away during spring and summer.
  • Depression with symptoms of psychosis, which is a severe form of depression where a person experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions (disturbing, false fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others do not see or hear).

Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression or manic-depressive illness) also experience depression.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

Common symptoms of depression include:

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
  • Feelings of irritability, frustration‚ or restlessness
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
  • Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
  • Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and that do not ease even with treatment
  • Suicide attempts or thoughts of death or suicide

If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You also can text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741) or use the Lifeline Chat on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

How is depression diagnosed?

To be diagnosed with depression, an individual must have five depression symptoms every day, nearly all day, for at least 2 weeks. One of the symptoms must be a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities. Children and adolescents may be irritable rather than sad.

If you think you may have depression, talk to your health care provider. Primary care providers routinely diagnose and treat depression and refer individuals to mental health professionals, such as psychologists or psychiatrists.

During the visit, your provider may ask when your symptoms began, how long they last, how often they occur, and if they keep you from going out or doing your usual activities. It may help to make some notes about your symptoms before your visit. Certain medications and some medical conditions, such as viruses or a thyroid disorder, can cause the same depression symptoms. Your provider can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam, interview, and lab tests.

Read NIMH’s Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider to help prepare for and get the most out of your visit. For additional resources, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website.

Does depression look the same in everyone?

Depression can affect people differently, depending on their age.

Children with depression may be anxious, cranky, pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that a parent may die.

Older children and teens with depression may get into trouble at school, sulk, be easily frustrated‚ feel restless, or have low self-esteem. They also may have other disorders, such as anxiety and eating disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or substance use disorder. Older children and teens are more likely to experience excessive sleepiness (called hypersomnia) and increased appetite (called hyperphagia). In adolescence, females begin to experience depression more often than males, likely due to the biological, life cycle, and hormonal factors unique to women.

Younger adults with depression are more likely to be irritable, complain of weight gain and hypersomnia, and have a negative view of life and the future. They often have other disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, and substance use disorders.

Middle-aged adults with depression may have more depressive episodes, decreased libido, middle-of-the-night insomnia, or early morning awakening. They also may more frequently report having gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation.

Older adults with depression commonly experience sadness or grief or may have other less obvious symptoms. They may report a lack of emotions rather than a depressed mood. Older adults also are more likely to have other medical conditions or pain that may cause or contribute to depression. In severe cases, memory and thinking problems (called pseudodementia) may be prominent.

How is depression treated?

Depression treatment typically involves medication, psychotherapy, or both. If these treatments do not reduce symptoms, brain stimulation therapy may be another treatment option. In milder cases of depression, treatment might begin with psychotherapy alone, and medication added if the individual continues to experience symptoms. For moderate or severe depression, many mental health professionals recommend a combination of medication and therapy at the start of treatment.

Choosing the right treatment plan should be based on a person’s individual needs and medical situation under a provider’s care. It may take some trial and error to find the treatment that works best for you. You can learn more about the different types of treatment, including psychotherapy, medication, and brain stimulation therapies on the NIMH's depression webpage. For information on finding a mental health professional and questions to ask when considering therapy, visit NIMH’s psychotherapies webpage.

Medications

Antidepressants are medications commonly used to treat depression. They take time to work—usually 4 to 8 weeks—and symptoms such as problems with sleep, appetite, or concentration often improve before mood lifts. It is important to give medication a chance before deciding whether or not it works.

Please Note: Some individuals—especially children, teenagers, and young adults—may experience an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants, particularly in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. All patients taking antidepressants should be watched closely, especially during the first few weeks of treatment.

Information about medications changes frequently. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for the latest warnings, patient medication guides, and newly approved medications.

Treatment-resistant depression occurs when a person doesn’t get better after trying at least two antidepressants. Esketamine is a newer FDA-approved medication for treatment-resistant depression delivered as a nasal spray in a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. It often acts rapidly—typically within a couple of hours—to relieve depression symptoms. Individuals usually continue to take an oral antidepressant to maintain the improvement in depression.

Another option for treatment-resistant depression is to add a different type of medication that may make an antidepressant more effective, such as an antipsychotic or anticonvulsant medication or bupropion, an antidepressant that works differently from most.

Medications prescribed by your health care provider for depression can have side effects, but these may lessen over time. Talk to your provider about any side effects that you have. Do not stop taking medications without the help of a health care provider. If you abruptly stop taking your medicine, you may experience severe withdrawal symptoms.

FDA has not approved any natural products for depression. While research is ongoing, some people find natural products, including vitamin D and the herbal dietary supplement St. John’s wort, to help depression. Do not use St. John’s wort or other dietary supplements for depression before talking to your provider. For more information, visit the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy” or “counseling”) teaches individuals with depression new ways of thinking and behaving and helps with changing habits that contribute to depression. Most psychotherapy occurs with a licensed, trained mental health professional in one-on-one sessions or with other individuals in a group setting. Two effective psychotherapies to treat depression include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). The use of older forms of psychotherapy, such as dynamic therapy, for a limited time also may help some people with depression.

With CBT, people learn to challenge and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behavior to improve their depressive and anxious feelings. Recent advances in CBT include introducing mindfulness principles and the development of specialized forms of therapy targeting particular symptoms, such as insomnia.

IPT focuses on interpersonal and life events that impact mood and vice versa. The goal of IPT is to help people improve their communication skills within relationships, establish social support networks, and develop realistic expectations to help them deal with crises or other issues that may be contributing to or worsening their depression.

Brain Stimulation Therapy

Brain stimulation therapy, which involves activating or inhibiting the brain directly with electricity or magnetic waves, is another option for some people when other depression treatments have not been effective.

The most common forms of brain stimulation therapy include electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Other brain stimulation therapies are newer and, in some cases, still experimental.

How can I find help?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator, an online tool for finding mental health treatment and support groups in your area. For additional resources, visit NIMH's Help for Mental Illnesses webpage.

How can I take care of myself?

Once you begin treatment, you should gradually start to feel better. Go easy on yourself during this time. Try to do things you used to enjoy. Even if you don’t feel like doing them, they can improve your mood. Other things that may help:

  • Try to get some physical activity. Just 30 minutes a day of walking can boost mood.
  • Try to maintain a regular bedtime and wake-up time.
  • Eat regular, healthy meals.
  • Do what you can as you can. Decide what must get done and what can wait.
  • Try to connect with other people, and talk with people you trust about how you are feeling.
  • Postpone important life decisions until you feel better.
  • Avoid using alcohol, nicotine, or drugs, including medications not prescribed for you.

How can I help a loved one who is depressed?

If someone you know has depression, help them see a health care provider or mental health professional. You also can:

  • Offer support, understanding, patience, and encouragement.
  • Invite them out for walks, outings, and other activities.
  • Help them stick to their treatment plan, such as setting reminders to take prescribed medications.
  • Make sure they have transportation to therapy appointments.
  • Remind them that, with time and treatment, the depression will lift.

Take comments about suicide seriously, and report them to your loved one’s health care provider or therapist. If they are in immediate distress or thinking about hurting themselves, call 911 for emergency services or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Where can I find clinical trials for depression?

Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. Although individuals may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, participants should be aware that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so others may receive better help in the future.

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and around the country conduct many studies with patients and healthy volunteers. Talk to your health care provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you. For more information, visit NIMH's clinical trials information.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Publication No. 21-MH-8079
Revised 2021

How do doctors diagnose depression and is there a faster way?

According to the World Health Organization, about 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression today. Symptoms of this common mental disorder include depressed mood, loss of interest in everything going on around you, and more. If depression is not diagnosed in time, it can lead to serious problems in life and even cause the development of physiological diseases. Let's put aside all these platitudes, which we all have known for a long time. Recently, scientists from Germany and Belgium have developed a way to diagnose depression based on a person's heart rate. They have long wanted to develop such a technology, but they were hampered by several factors. So what was the problem and how was it solved?

A still from The Sopranos

Contents

  • 1 What is depression?
  • 2 How is depression diagnosed?
  • 3 Duration of treatment for depression
  • 4 New way to diagnose depression

What is depression?

Sometimes people mistake ordinary mood swings that occur in every person for depression. In fact, this is a serious mental disorder that can pretty much spoil a person’s life and even cause more serious diseases. The cause of depression does not happen alone - the development of the disorder is influenced by heredity, living conditions in a person's early childhood and the characteristics of his adult life. Thus, the likelihood of depression is significantly increased if a person is abused in childhood. Side effects from certain medications and even lack of sunlight can also provoke depression.

Symptoms of depression vary from person to person. Among them there are such signs as:

  • depressed mood in which a person sees his future as something gloomy;
  • loss of pleasure when a person is not interested in activities that used to bring him joy;
  • fatigue when a person does not have enough strength even to perform simple tasks;
  • loss of confidence , in which a person does not believe that he can succeed in something;
  • inability to concentrate due to which a person cannot perform tasks that used to be easy for him;
  • sleep disorders when a person may constantly feel drowsy, but cannot fall asleep for a long time at night;
  • change in appetite in which a person either eats too little or too much;
  • thoughts about death that can lead to very sad consequences.

As you can see, there are a lot of symptoms of depression. But no one can diagnose a mental disorder on their own. Only psychiatrists can do this. So, if you think that you have depression, run to a specialist.

There are many subtleties in diagnosing depression, so only a specialist can do it.

How is depression diagnosed?

Typically, psychiatrists diagnose depression by talking to patients. They usually ask people to complete several questionnaires. With the help of them, the specialist finds out if a person has lost interest in life, whether he observes personal hygiene well, and so on. In general, surveys help to quickly identify the symptoms of a mental disorder. The diagnosis of "depression" is made only if the patient has a large number of symptoms . At the same time, during the conversation, psychiatrists try to find out how long the symptoms have been felt. If a person is sad for a couple of days, there is nothing to worry about, and if this continues for more than two weeks, the person’s problems are clearly worth paying attention to.

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Duration of treatment for depression

The above method of identifying a mental disorder sounds complicated and obviously takes a lot of time. Therefore, scientists have long been trying to find a faster and equally accurate method. Scientists from Germany and Belgium have long realized that the presence of depression in a person can be hinted at by their heartbeat. But finding a link between heart rate and depression has been difficult for at least two reasons. First, the heart rate depends on many factors, and to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to monitor the rhythm for at least 24 hours. Secondly, to develop a new diagnostic method, it is necessary to identify the difference in the heart rate of the same person before and after treatment. But the treatment of depression can last several months and even years.

Even excessive use of a smartphone can lead to depression.

The first problem was easily solved, because almost all modern fitness bracelets can monitor a person's heartbeat all day long. But scientists have learned to quickly relieve people of the symptoms of depression for a short time only recently. In 2019, the US approved the use of an antidepressant called ketamine, which is banned in Russia . It quickly eliminates the symptoms of depression in a person, but the effect of it does not last long.

Ketamine is banned in Russia

A new way to diagnose depression

Having found a solution to both problems, scientists conducted an experiment. It was attended by 16 people with depression who were not helped by traditional methods of treatment. The control group consisted of 16 people without any mental disorders. Their heartbeat was measured for four days and three nights. The study found that before taking ketamine, the average heart rate of depressed people was 90,023, 15 beats per minute above than in healthy people. During sleep, the heartbeat of healthy people became calmer, but in volunteers with depression, the rhythm remained the same fast . After taking ketamine, the heart rate of people with depression became the same as in healthy people.

Depression affects a person's heart rate

With these results, the researchers created an app that diagnoses depression based on their daytime and nighttime heart rate. If there is no particular difference, the system puts an affirmative verdict, and if there is a difference, then the person is healthy. During testing, the application gave correct results in 14 out of 16 cases. But can we assume that a new way to diagnose depression has already been created and should we wait for a new mobile application? Scientists say no.

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In their study, they proved the effectiveness of ketamine and found a difference in heart rate between healthy people and patients with symptoms of depression. But in order to officially recognize the new method as credible, more research is needed with the participation of more people. In addition, in the course of further work, they may identify other signs of depression that will increase the accuracy of the results.

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reasons, how to understand that you have depression, how long it lasts, is it possible to get out of it yourself

Please explain in simple words what it is depression. For example, how long can it last? How can I tell if I or someone close to me has depression?

Is it possible to cope with depression without the help of a specialist? Can depression go away on its own?

Is there any official data for the world and Russia, how many people are in a state of depression? How many have been there?

Is there a dependence of depression on gender, age, nationality, faith, sexual orientation and place of residence, or are they not connected in any way?

If there is an addiction, then who is more susceptible to depression: men or women, children or adults, Russians or Americans, Christians or Muslims, heterosexuals or homosexuals, Muscovites or Omsk residents, city dwellers or villagers?

Yana Shagova

psychologist

Author profile

Depression is a mental disorder. Its main manifestations are as follows: decreased mood, inability to enjoy life, severe apathy, pessimism, lack of strength. And the most disturbing symptom is suicidal thoughts.

It is often difficult for a depressed person to maintain full-fledged relationships even with those closest to him, to do household chores, to take care of himself. And also - to study and work productively, since depression often negatively affects cognitive abilities and brain function in general.

According to the currently main hypothesis of the occurrence of depression - the monoamine theory - during this disease, malfunctions in the work of neurotransmitters occur. These are substances with the help of which brain cells exchange information with each other, in particular monoamines: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

Understanding Depression - American Psychiatric Association

Depression is also known to affect some parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and emotional regulation, the prefrontal cortex, which processes information from the hippocampus, and the amygdala, which plays a role in the formation of fear and other emotions.

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Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don't write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

What causes depression

Predisposition to depression is determined by various factors. One of the most important is genetics. People whose immediate family members have had the disorder may be more likely to develop it.

Genetic Causes of Major Depressive Disorder - Psychological Medicine

Other significant risk factors are psychological and social.

Psychological factors include, for example, the conditions in which a person grows up and how others treat him during this period. If a child receives a lot of love and support, they are less likely to suffer from depression as an adult. Conversely, those who are often abused and humiliated in childhood have a higher risk of developing this disease.

Social factors that can trigger depression are, for example, low income and the city and region where the person lives. I will tell you more about this below.

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Another common cause is somatic diseases: hormonal failure or an acute deficiency of some substances. In addition, depression can be provoked by severe stress caused, for example, by the loss of a loved one or the loss of a job.

How long depression can last

According to a study by Dutch doctors, in 50% of cases, a depressive episode lasted three months. At the same time, more than 20% of the symptoms of the disease did not go away even after two years.

Duration of episodes of major depressive disorder in the Dutch population - British Journal of Psychiatry

Duration of illness depends on the severity and severity of symptoms, individual characteristics and other factors. In addition, some people experience relapses: there is evidence that in 50% of cases depression returns and needs to be treated again.

How to tell if you have depression

You can tell if a person is depressed by looking at their characteristic signs. The main one is a long-term decrease in mood. It can appear with different intensity. Someone due to depression feels a slight melancholy. Someone - an acute unwillingness to live.

In addition, you should be wary if you lost interest in your favorite activities for a long time - more than a month ago - and nothing brings you joy. For example, you absolutely do not want to go for a walk, play sports, see friends and relatives. Or if the feeling of boredom and routine does not leave. Or you are tormented by thoughts about your own uselessness and that you don’t know how and why to live. And the future seems exceptionally gloomy, full of troubles and troubles.

Another important symptom is a constant feeling of physical weakness. Especially if it makes it difficult to force yourself to get out of bed, get dressed, take a shower and brush your teeth. And I want only one thing - to lie down, looking at one point.

Sleep and eating disorders can also signal depression. For example, insomnia or unusually long - 10-12 hours - sleep. And also a lack of appetite or, conversely, a strong craving for sweet and fatty foods, which provokes frequent overeating.

/insomnia/

How to deal with insomnia

Depressed people often suffer from memory and concentration problems, as well as the ability to process information and make decisions. If you notice that you often cannot choose products in the store, you begin to be late everywhere, forget about things, do your work more slowly, there is a reason to consult a doctor. Especially if all of the above is accompanied by a bad mood and gloomy thoughts.

Complete list of signs of depression

According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a diagnosis of depression can be made if a person has five or more symptoms of depression within two weeks:

  1. Low mood or persistent irritability.
  2. Significant reduction in pleasure or interest in all or almost all activities.
  3. Decreased or, conversely, increased weight and appetite.
  4. Insomnia or too much sleep.
  5. Psychomotor agitation or inhibition.
  6. Decreased energy and increased fatigue.
  7. Feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem or inadequate guilt.
  8. Inhibited thinking or reduced alertness.
  9. Suicidal thoughts.

Online questionnaires for self-diagnosis of depression, such as the well-known Beck test, are not worth using: they are very inaccurate.

Is it possible to cope with depression on your own

Theoretically, you can cope with depression on your own. But in extremely rare cases - with its mild and short form. The problem is that a person is usually unable to assess the severity and severity of their symptoms and establish the cause of their occurrence.

Therefore, if you suspect a mental disorder, it is better to contact a specialist. It is not so important who it will be at the initial stage: a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist. You will be helped to understand how to proceed further and whether treatment is necessary.

/postpartum-depression-treatment/

Dealing with postpartum depression

Depression is treated with special medications. Often - in combination with psychotherapy. It has been proven that a combination of approaches gives the best effect. Other methods - mindfulness practices, yoga, physical activity - are useful and effective, but are of an auxiliary nature.

According to the rules in force in Russia, only psychiatrists and psychotherapists can decide on the appointment of drug therapy, select drugs, their dosage and adjust it in the course of treatment. Psychologists without a medical education are not entitled to do this.

A very small number of cases can be dispensed with without medication: when depression is mild, short-lived, and its symptoms are not pronounced. But again, the decision about this should be made by the doctor. I note that the side effects of modern drugs are much less inconvenient than the symptoms of depression, and they pass quite quickly. Therefore, you should not resist taking medication with all your might.

Treatment of depressive disorders with and without medication - Pharmacopsychiatry

And another important point. Sometimes depression is not an independent disease, but is part of other mental disorders. For example, bipolar affective or schizoaffective. They are treated differently than depression. Therefore, it is very important to make an accurate diagnosis at the very beginning: incorrectly prescribed therapy can aggravate the symptoms of the disease.

How many people suffer from depression

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 5% of the world's inhabitants suffer from depression. The top five countries in terms of the prevalence of depression are Ukraine, the USA, Estonia, Australia and Brazil. In them, this disease affects 5.7-6.3% of the population.

Russia - in eleventh place. According to WHO, more than 8 million - 5.5% - of the country's inhabitants have depression.

Most likely, these estimates are lower than the real numbers. Especially in less developed countries, where medicine is not so well prepared to diagnose and treat mental disorders. In addition, even in developed countries, depression is often not detected. Source: World Population Review, WHO data Most likely, these estimates are lower than the real numbers. Especially in less developed countries, where medicine is not so well prepared to diagnose and treat mental disorders. In addition, even in developed countries, depression is often not detected. Source: World Population Review, WHO data

What affects predisposition to depression

Place of residence. Residents of large cities are thought to be more likely to suffer from mental disorders, including depression. They are constantly exposed to stress due to noise pollution and strong lighting, crowded population, lack of full communication with loved ones and high pace of life.

Urbanization and Mental Disorders - Industrial Psychiatry Journal

But it cannot be argued that life in the countryside is better for the psyche: there is no data on this. In addition, the state of the psyche determines not only the place of residence, but also other factors. It is impossible to separate them from each other.

If a person lives in a small town and does not experience financial difficulties, communicates enough with relatives, plays sports, then we can assume that he is more likely to be mentally healthy than a conventional city dweller.

Nationality. There is no connection between nationality and predisposition to depression. On the other hand, the unfavorable socio-economic situation in the country of residence - poverty or political instability - seriously affects the development of any mental disorders.

Sexuality is also not directly related to depression. But the so-called minority stress that LGBT people experience in modern society makes them more vulnerable to mental disorders.

Community 07/27/21

What is the difference between sex and gender?

Gender and age. But gender may be a risk factor: women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression. This is explained not only by physiology, but also by the peculiarities of the social status: women are more often subjected to violence and earn less. They have to balance work, childcare and domestic work, and their career options are limited.

Why depression is more common among women - Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience

In addition, there is a hypothesis that men are simply less likely to seek medical and psychological help. Therefore, they are less likely to be diagnosed with depression.

By the way, depression is not as common in children of both sexes as it is in adults. It affects 3.2% of the general child population. And most often, depression is diagnosed in adults 18-25 years old.

Religion. A significant link between depression and religious beliefs has not yet been found: the results of studies on this subject are contradictory. On the one hand, there is evidence that believers and atheists experience fewer symptoms of depression than those who occupy an intermediate position in relation to religion.

On the other hand, a large study by scientists from Latin America showed that religious women over 65 years of age have an increased tendency to depression. But the reasons for this are unclear. The issue still needs to be studied.

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What is the result

Depression is a mental disorder that, according to statistics, affects 5% of people in the world. It may not go away for years. The predisposition to depression is genetic. But a dysfunctional childhood, severe stress in adulthood, and some somatic disorders increase the likelihood of its occurrence.

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