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Basic facts about major depression (unipolar disorder) |
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Major depression is: |
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- Like schizophrenia, a brain disease with concrete and specific symptoms due to physical and biochemical changes in the brain.
- Almost always treatable with medication.
- Affects a significant percentage of the
population at least once during their
lifetimes.
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Signs and symptoms
(Excerpted from the
website of the Mood Disorders Association of B.C.)
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- Feelings of sadness, anxiety and hopelessness.
- Sense of impending doom or disaster.
- Reduced enjoyment and pleasure - void of emotions.
- Loss of energy and motivation.
- Low self-esteem or guilt, feelings of worthlessness.
- Feelings of deep insecurity.
- Preoccupation with failures or inadequacies.
- Eating disturbance - increased or decreased.
- Sleeping disturbance - increased or decreased.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate; slowed thinking or indecisiveness.
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal thoughts or attempts.
- Phantom aches and pains.
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More information on depression
Internet Mental Health
A detailed
description of depression, including symptoms
and associated problems, plus a long list of reference material and links on treatment, causation, illness variations,
and how to manage the illness.
Depression and Anxiety Resources and
Education Centre
Information and commentary about depression and
anxiety disorders for health professionals
and the public, from McMaster University.
Books
For a shortlist of books on
depression, see our bibliography. |
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Help for families and patients
For family members: The Family Support Centre covers all serious mental illnesses, including
depression. Specific programs helping families deal with the illness include the
family support group,
one-on-one peer counselling and our Family to
Family education program.
For patients and supporters:
The Mood Disorders Association of B.C.
runs support groups for those suffering from the illness and provides a wide range of specialized materials and resources.
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