Depression

Article originally published on MedlinePlus. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); Opioid Misuse and Addiction; [updated 2016 Nov 4; cited 2022 Aug 10]; Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/depression.html

Summary

Depression is a serious medical illness. It’s more than just a feeling of being sad or “blue” for a few days. If you are one of the more than 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include:

Feeling sad or “empty”
Loss of interest in favorite activities
Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
Feeling very tired
Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is a disorder of the brain. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression can happen at any age, but it often begins in teens and young adults. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.

There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants, talk therapy, or both.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

Start Here

Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)
Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Help with Depression (American Psychiatric Association)

Diagnosis and Tests

Depression Screening (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

8 Things To Know about Depression and Complementary Health Approaches (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Antidepressants: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish
Antipsychotic drugs a last resort for these 5 conditions (ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia and PTSD) (Consumer Reports)
Brain Stimulation Therapies (National Institute of Mental Health)
Depression Treatment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Psychotherapies (National Institute of Mental Health)
St. John’s Wort and Depression (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Therapy and Counseling (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish

Living With

Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Related Issues

Chronic Illness and Mental Health: Recognizing and Treating Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish
Depression in Black Americans (Mental Health America)
The Link Between Migraine, Depression and Anxiety (American Migraine Foundation)

Specifics

Atypical Depression (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
Depression (PDQ) (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
Depression and Caregiving (Family Caregiver Alliance)Also in Spanish
Depression in the Workplace (Mental Health America)
Lupus and Depression: Know the Signs and How to Get Help (Lupus Foundation of America)
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
Treatment-Resistant Depression (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
What Does the Term “Clinical Depression” Mean? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Genetics

Depression: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Health Check Tools

Depression Screening: Questionnaire (Department of Veterans Affairs)

Statistics and Research

Depression in Older Adults (Mental Health America)
Major Depression among Adults (National Institute of Mental Health)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Depression (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Dysthymic Disorder (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles

References and Abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

American Psychiatric Association
Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Find Your Local NAMI (NAMI)
Help for Mental Illnesses (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish
National Institute of Mental Health Also in Spanish
Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association)

Children

Sadness and Depression (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
Taking Your Child to a Therapist (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Teen Depression: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine)

Men

Male Depression: Understanding the Issues (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
Men and Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish

Women

Depression (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health)Also in Spanish
Depression and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) – PDFAlso in Spanish
Depression in Women: 5 Things You Should Know (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish
Depression in Women: Understanding the Gender Gap (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Older Adults

Older Adults and Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Depression – elderly (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Depression – stopping your medicines (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Dysthymia (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Heart disease and depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Learning about depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Major depression (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Major depression with psychotic features (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish

You are not alone