Special Groups and Depression:
What is Depression?
Depression is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It’s feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time.
Signs & Symptoms of Depression
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed
Treatment of Depression
A variety of treatments including medications and short-term psychotherapies have proven effective for depression.
Depression and Other Illnesses
Depression often co-exists with other illnesses. Such illnesses may precede the depression, cause it, and/or be a consequence of it.
Publications
Read, print, or order NIMH booklets, fact sheets, and other publications on depression such as:
Stories of Depression
An introductory booklet describing signs, symptoms, treatment options, how to get help, and how to help someone who may have depression.
Depression.
A detailed booklet that describes major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder (manic-depression); lists symptoms; reviews possible causes; tells how depression is diagnosed; and discusses available treatments.
Men and Depression.
A detailed booklet that describes what you need to know about depression in men: How it looks, how it feels, getting help, and getting better.
