Difference between revisions of "Clinical depression"
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(identified by the following primary symptoms) |
(How come everyone thinks it's an illness, not a moral weakness?) |
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'''Depression''' means feeling [[sad]] or [[melancholic]] for a long time and losing in interest in activities that are usually enjoyable. | '''Depression''' means feeling [[sad]] or [[melancholic]] for a long time and losing in interest in activities that are usually enjoyable. | ||
| − | Mental health professionals | + | Mental health professionals claim that depression is a [[mental illness]],<ref> "Depression is a mental illness that can affect mood, cognition, and physiological functioning. Each year about 21 million American adults (nearly 10% of the population) suffer from depression or a related illness. Robins, L.N. & Regier, D.A. (1990). Psychiatric Disorders in America: The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. New York: The Free Press.</ref> identified by the following primary [[symptom]]s: |
*significant, unintentional [[weight loss]] | *significant, unintentional [[weight loss]] | ||
*difficulty sleeping or oversleeping | *difficulty sleeping or oversleeping | ||
*restlessness | *restlessness | ||
*fatigue or loss of energy | *fatigue or loss of energy | ||
| − | *feeling worthless or inappropriately | + | *feeling worthless or inappropriately [[guilt]]y |
*difficulty thinking or concentrating | *difficulty thinking or concentrating | ||
| − | *thoughts of suicide<ref>American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.</ref>. | + | *thoughts of [[suicide]]<ref>American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.</ref>. |
While everyone experiences symptoms of depression from time to time,{{science-fact}} these symptoms are usually transient and often in response to outside stressors. Although depression is sometimes triggered by life events, sufferers also often describe feeling sad for no reason at all.{{science-fact}} | While everyone experiences symptoms of depression from time to time,{{science-fact}} these symptoms are usually transient and often in response to outside stressors. Although depression is sometimes triggered by life events, sufferers also often describe feeling sad for no reason at all.{{science-fact}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is also worth noting that the medical community has lobbied hard to claim that depression is an illness that should be treated. Labeling depression as a [[disease]], rather than as a [[moral weakness]], means that doctors and drug companies can profit from it. | ||
== Depressive Disorders == | == Depressive Disorders == | ||
Revision as of 01:05, February 14, 2008
The term depression can also refer to a period of economic downturn, such as the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Depression means feeling sad or melancholic for a long time and losing in interest in activities that are usually enjoyable.
Mental health professionals claim that depression is a mental illness,[1] identified by the following primary symptoms:
- significant, unintentional weight loss
- difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
- restlessness
- fatigue or loss of energy
- feeling worthless or inappropriately guilty
- difficulty thinking or concentrating
- thoughts of suicide[2].
While everyone experiences symptoms of depression from time to time,Template:Science-fact these symptoms are usually transient and often in response to outside stressors. Although depression is sometimes triggered by life events, sufferers also often describe feeling sad for no reason at all.Template:Science-fact
It is also worth noting that the medical community has lobbied hard to claim that depression is an illness that should be treated. Labeling depression as a disease, rather than as a moral weakness, means that doctors and drug companies can profit from it.
Depressive Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder.
Dysthymia.
Bipolar Disorder.
References
- ↑ "Depression is a mental illness that can affect mood, cognition, and physiological functioning. Each year about 21 million American adults (nearly 10% of the population) suffer from depression or a related illness. Robins, L.N. & Regier, D.A. (1990). Psychiatric Disorders in America: The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. New York: The Free Press.
- ↑ American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.