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Depression Treatment Guide Symptoms Causes Therapy Medications and Recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, and reduced daily functioning lasting at least two weeks.
What are the main symptoms of depression?
Symptoms include low mood, loss of interest, hopelessness, guilt, fatigue, appetite changes, sleep problems, poor concentration, and suicidal thoughts.
What causes depression?
Depression can be caused by genetic factors, brain chemical imbalance, stressful life events, trauma, chronic illness, substance use, and hormonal changes.
How is depression diagnosed?
Depression is diagnosed through clinical interviews, symptom duration assessment, psychiatric evaluation, and standardized screening tools based on DSM-5 criteria.
What are the main treatments for depression?
Treatment includes psychotherapy, antidepressant medications, lifestyle changes, social support, and advanced therapies like ECT or TMS in severe cases.
Which medications are commonly used to treat depression?
Common antidepressants include SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, mirtazapine, tricyclic antidepressants, and MAO inhibitors depending on patient response.
How long do antidepressants take to work?
Most antidepressants take 2 to 6 weeks to show noticeable improvement, with full benefits often seen by 8 to 12 weeks.
Can depression be treated without medication?
Yes, mild to moderate depression can often be managed with psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, exercise, sleep improvement, and stress management.
What is treatment-resistant depression?
Treatment-resistant depression refers to depression that does not respond to at least two adequate trials of antidepressant medications.
When is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) used?
ECT is used in severe, psychotic, suicidal, or medication-resistant depression where rapid symptom improvement is needed.
Can depression increase suicide risk?
Yes, untreated depression significantly increases the risk of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and self-harm.
How long should depression treatment continue?
Treatment should continue for at least 6 to 12 months after symptom remission, and longer in recurrent cases.
Is depression curable?
Depression is highly treatable, and many patients achieve full remission with proper medical and psychological care.
What lifestyle changes help in depression recovery?
Regular exercise, good sleep, healthy diet, stress management, social engagement, avoiding alcohol, and structured daily routines support recovery.
What are warning signs of severe depression?
Warning signs include persistent suicidal thoughts, inability to function, psychotic symptoms, severe withdrawal, and refusal to eat or drink.
Can teenagers and children get depression?
Yes, depression affects children and adolescents, often presenting with irritability, academic decline, social withdrawal, and self-harm behavior.
Does depression come back after treatment?
Depression can relapse, especially if treatment is stopped early, but long-term therapy and lifestyle management reduce recurrence.
What is the difference between depression and sadness?
Sadness is temporary, while depression is persistent, more severe, affects daily life, and lasts for weeks or months.
Can depression be prevented?
Risk can be reduced through stress management, emotional support, healthy lifestyle, early intervention, and mental health awareness.
When should someone seek professional help for depression?
Professional help should be sought if symptoms last more than two weeks, worsen over time, interfere with daily life, or involve suicidal thoughts.
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