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Depression
Serious depression is an
important public health problem. More than 19 million adults in the
United States will suffer from a depressive illness this year, and many
will be unnecessarily incapacitated for weeks or months, because their
illness goes untreated. The cost to the Nation in 1990 was estimated
to be between $30 - $44 billion. The suffering of depressed people and
their families is immeasurable.
Depressive disorders are
not the normal ups and downs that everyone experiences. They are illnesses
that affect mood, body, behavior, and mind. Depressive disorders interfere
with individual and family functioning. The person with a depressive
disorder is often unable to fulfill the responsibilities of spouse or
parent, and may be unable to carry out usual job responsibilities.
Available medications and
psychological treatments, alone or in combination, can help 80 percent
of those with depression. With adequate treatment, future episodes may
be prevented or reduced in severity. Yet, current evidence indicates
that nearly two out of three depressed people do not seek treatment
and suffer needlessly.
Research has also shown that
depression often co-occurs with medical conditions (e.g., stroke, heart
disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.); other psychiatric disorders (e.g.,
anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc.); and alcohol and other substance
abuse. In such cases, there can be added health benefits from treating
the depression.
NIMH's goal is to alleviate
suffering due to depressive illnesses by:
- Increasing the public
recognition of the symptoms of depression and knowledge of where to
get professional diagnosis and treatment.
- Fostering help-seeking
behaviors and more appropriate use of health and mental health care
systems.
- Providing health and mental
health specialists with up-to-date knowledge about effective treatments
for depressive illnesses.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
- Clinical depression
is a common illness that usually goes unrecognized. When identified,
it can be treated.
- There are effective
medications and psychological treatments which often are used in combination.
In serious depression, medication is usually required.
- The majority
of clinical depressions, including the most severe, improve with treatment,
usually within weeks. Continued treatment will prevent recurrence.
- Depression is
often unrecognized when it co-occurs with other medical, psychiatric,
or substance abuse disorders.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ABOUT DEPRESSION
WRITE TO:
DEPRESSION
6001 Executive Boulevard, Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
For free
brochures on depression and its treatment, call: 1-800-421-4211
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