PlusFour Solutions: Guidance through Assessment

One in every ten Americans is depressed. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood, rather it is a persistent psychological problem. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. Often a person has a genetic predisposition for a depressive disorder.

Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts.

Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression which involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good.

Bipolar disorder is another type of depression, also called manic-depressive illness. Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression).

Symptoms of Depression

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness & pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling “slowed down”
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Additional information about Depression:

• National Institutes of Health Article
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill