[Administration]

UKDF Depression Factsheet


Introduction

If you are reading this factsheet because you suffer from depression or you know or care for someone who does, or even if you're not sure, then rest assured, you're far from alone.

Everyone has bad days when life no longer seems worthwhile, difficult tasks suddenly seem impossible and problems seem like they will never be solved. Most people are able to shrug off those feelings and go on to have better days. When the bad days outweigh the good and start to stretch into weeks and then months, however, then that can indicate a bigger problem. A government survey of doctors records showed that 7% of women and 3% of men in the UK were treated for depression in 1998. That's a total of over half a million treated people, going by the UK population of approximately 5.8 million and does not include cases that go unrecorded because people are unaware or unwilling to visit their doctor.

This factsheet aims to help people understand what depression is; a recognised, treatable medical illness, and to help people recognise the symptoms in themselves and others.The cause and treatment of depression will appear in later factsheets (when I have time to write them!)

What is Depression?

Depression is a medical term used to describe symptoms of psychological distress. In its mildest form, depression can cause lowered mood, a reduced enjoyment of life and can make everyday life feel harder and less worthwhile. Severe depression can become life-threatening, people may feel like killing themselves or give up the will to live.

Feeling sad or fed up with life can affect everyone. The difference with depression is that it is an actual illness, which causes intense feelings of sadness or hopelessness and can also cause physical problems, such as loss of energy and sleep disturbance.

Depression is not a sign of personal weakness and people with a depressive illness cannot simply "snap out of it". Depression is, however, a treatable illness and forward progress in the different treatments is being made every day.

There are several different types of illness falling into the category of "depressive disorders"

Major Depression: A combination of symptoms which seriously interfere the ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy life.

Dysthymia: This is a less serious form of depression, which involves less serious symptoms, which make life feel more difficult than usual and keep sufferers from functioning well or feeling good.

Bear in mind that the categories above are simply used to group people together and the root cause of the depression is the same.

Bipolar Disorder: This is also referred to as "Manic Depression" and is less common than other forms of depression. People suffering from bipolar disorder can cycle between intense highs (known as mania) and lows (depression).

More information on Bipolar disorder, including specific symptoms and subtypes of the illness, can be found in the separate area dedicated to it on this board.

Symptoms of Depressive illness

Depression and bipolar disorder can affect different people in different ways, which can make it difficult for others to recognise the illness. Generally, depression and mania result in the following symptoms:

Depression:

Tiredness and lack of energy
Feelings of persistant sadness or hopelessness
Loss of confidence, feelings of low self-esteem
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
Feelings of numbness or emptyness
Reduced enjoyment of activites that were usually pleasurable
Sleep disturbance, such as not being able to sleep, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Difficulty in concentrating, remembering or making decisions
Avoidance of other people, even close friends.
Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Raised use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs
Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems
Thoughts or acts of self-harm or suicide
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Mania:

Increased physical and mental energy
Decreased need for sleep
Racing speech, racing thoughts
Increased sexual desire
Grand notions, feelings of self-importance
Increased feelings of irritability and/or agressive behaviour
Impulsive and/or easily distracted
Reckless behaviour, poor judgement
In more severe cases, delusions and/or hallucinations

As a general rule, people who have experienced four or more of these symptoms for most of the day, every day, for over two weeks should seek help.

Sources:
MIND - http://www.mind.org.uk
Depression Alliance - http://www.depressionalliance.org
National Institute of Mental Health (USA) - http://www.nimh.nih..../depression.cfm
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) - http://www.dbsalliance.org
National Statistics Online - http://www.statistics.gov.uk

Please note that this fact sheet is an original work and should not be reproduced without crediting UKDepression Forums