Understanding Clinical Depression: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Clinical depression differs from normal sadness. Its symptoms can interfere with the patient's ability to function and---if left untreated---may lead to devastating emotional repercussions. The good news is that most people who suffer from clinical depression can get better with the right treatment.

Distinction

• Clinical depression is any kind of depression that lasts for two weeks or longer (unlike normal sadness, which usually clears up in a few days).

Symptoms

• Symptoms of clinical depression can include feelings of intense sadness and despair, a lack of interest in everyday activities, loss of energy, insomnia and thoughts of suicide in the worst cases.

Diagnosis

• Depression can be diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional, who may be able to pinpoint the precise type of depression (such as major depression or bipolar disorder).

Therapy

• Therapy for depression means examining the roots of the problem (under the guidance of a professional counselor) and finding ways to resolve them. It also teaches the patient new coping mechanisms to handle depression when it strikes.

Anti-Depressants

• Anti-depressants such as Prozac treat the symptoms of depression by balancing certain chemicals in the brain. That allows therapy and other treatments to do their work more readily.