Depression: MedlinePlus

Depression: MedlinePlus

Depression

Also called: Clinical depression, Dysthymic disorder, Major depressive disorder, Unipolar depression

Women and Depression

Being sad is a normal reaction to difficult times in life. But usually, the sadness goes away with a little time. Depression is different — it is a medical condition that may cause severe symptoms that can affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities like sleeping, eating, or working. Certain types of depression are unique to women, likely due to certain biological, hormonal, and social factors.

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

• Depression
• Depression - elderly
• Depression - stopping your medicines
• Dysthymia
• Electroconvulsive therapy
• Heart disease and depression
• Learning about depression
• Major depression
• Major depression with psychotic features

Related Health Topics

• Antidepressants
• Bipolar Disorder
• Mental Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Postpartum Depression
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Suicide
• Teen Depression

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Depression is theNational Institute of Mental Health

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Depression

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Dealing with Depression
• Depression Strikes…Anyone
• For the First Time, Life Seems Worth Living
• Understanding Depression

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

Summary

Depression is a serious medical illness. It's more than just a feeling of being sad or "blue" for a few days. If you are one of the more than 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include

• Feeling sad or "empty"
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
• Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
• Feeling very tired
• Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is a disorder of the brain. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression can happen at any age, but it often begins in teens and young adults. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.

There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants, talk therapy, or both.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

Start Here

• Depression  (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Depression: What You Need to Know  (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish
• Help With Depression (American Psychiatric Association)

Symptoms

• Signs and Symptoms of Mood Disorders (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Depression Screening  (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Antidepressants: MedlinePlus Health Topic  (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
• Antipsychotic drugs a last resort for these 5 conditions (ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia and PTSD) (Consumers Union of U.S.)
• Brain Stimulation Therapies  (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Depression Treatment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Psychotherapies  (National Institute of Mental Health)
• St. John's Wort and Depression  (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Therapy and Counseling (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
• Time to Talk: 5 Things to Know about St. John's Wort and Depression (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Living With

• Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
• Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Alzheimer's or Depression: Could It Be Both? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
• Chronic Illness & Mental Health  (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish
• Coping with Unexpected Events: Depression and Trauma (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
• Depression and African Americans (Mental Health America)
• Depression and Anxiety in Migraine Patients (American Migraine Foundation)
• Depression and Suicide Risk (American Association of Suicidology) - PDF

Specifics

• Atypical Depression (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
• Depression (PDQ)  (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
• Depression and Alzheimer's Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
• Depression and Caregiving (Family Caregiver Alliance)Also in Spanish
• Depression in the Workplace (Mental Health America)
• Lupus and Depression: Know the Signs and How to Get Help (Lupus Foundation of America)
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) formerly Dysthymic Disorder(American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Treatment-Resistant Depression (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
• What Does the Term "Clinical Depression" Mean?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: depression  (National Library of Medicine)

Health Check Tools

• Depression Screening: Questionnaire (Department of Veterans Affairs)

Statistics and Research

• Depression in Older Adults (Mental Health America)
• Major Depression Among Adults  (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Physical Activity May Lessen Depression Symptoms  (National Institutes of Health)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Depression  (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dysthymic Disorder  (National Institutes of Health)

Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major... 
• Article: Late Pregnancy and Postpartum Emergencies. 
• Article: Comparative efficacy and acceptability of non-surgical brain stimulation for the acute... 
• Depression -- see more articles 

Find an Expert

• American Psychiatric Association 
• Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services Locator(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• Find Your Local NAMI (NAMI)
• Help for Mental Illnesses  (National Institute of Mental Health)
• National Institute of Mental Health 
• Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association)

Children

• Sadness and Depression (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
• Taking Your Child to a Therapist (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish

Men

• Male Depression: Understanding the Issues (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
• Men and Depression  (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish

Women

• Depression (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)Also in Spanish
• Depression and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDFAlso in Spanish
• Depression in Women: 5 Things You Should Know  (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Depression in Women: Understanding the Gender Gap(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Older Adults

• Older Adults and Depression  (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Depression - elderly (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Depression - stopping your medicines (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Dysthymia (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Heart disease and depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Learning about depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Major depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Major depression with psychotic features (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish