|
|
|
What is Depression?
|
|
|
Summary:
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive low mood and loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. Diagnosis of depression is based on the patient's self-reported experiences and observed behavior. No laboratory tests exist for major depression, clinical depression or mental depression although physicians often test for physical conditions that may cause similar depression symptoms before arriving at a diagnosis.
|
|
What is Depression?
Depression is used to describe a temporary depressed mood, when a person may feel sad or "down". Depression may be over-diagnosed, and the use of anti-depressants to treat it may also be overused.
Clinical depression, as well as all other depression disorders are linked to levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, and most antidepressants work to increase the active levels of these in the brain. However relief of depression symptoms usually occurs several weeks or more neurotransmitter levels improve. A host of psychological factors has also been implicated, and various forms of psychotherapy are used to address them.
Natural therapies focus on increasing overall health by addressing diet, nutritional status with vitamin and mineral supplementation and specific herbs, such as St. John's Wort which has been found to be effective in mild to moderate depression.
----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
| 
Digg this article
