About Depression

Major depressive disorder (mdd) is a condition which lasts two or more weeks and interferes with a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks and enjoyed activities that previously brought pleasure. This condition affects approximately 16 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older.

While depression medications work for many people, some still do not receive adequate treatment. For patients with treatment resistant depression, the effects of depression can still be debilitating. These patients need a proven, safe alternative depression treatment option.

An estimated 7.2% of men and women in the United States have experienced a significant depressive episode. Depression can wreak havoc on your life, affecting your self-esteem, job performance, and personal relationships. Our providers at Ohio Psychiatric Services, can help to resolve your feelings of despair or worthlessness.

Common Depression Symptoms

Persistent "empty" or anxious feelings
Feeling hopleess, helpless, worthless, or guilty
Overeating or appetite loss
Insomnia or oversleeping
Fatigue, Headaches or Irritability
Digestive Problems

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

If you are experiencing four or more of these and feeling a depressed mood for more than a 2-week period, you may want to seek medical help.

More Serious than you might know

Depression affects millions of Americans and is the second leading cause of disability.

affected each year

of all adults in US

> k

deaths from suicide

patients who can’t take antidepressants

Frequently Asked Questions

What is major depression?

Major depressive disorder is a condition which lasts two or more weeks and interferes with a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks and enjoyed activities that previously brought pleasure. This condition affects approximately 16 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older

What causes depression?

The exact cause of depression is not known, but leading research in Neuroscience points to an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters as the manifestation of depression. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells. A person’s genetic make-up and life history may also determine a person’s tendency to become depressed.

How prevalent is depression?

In 2016 a study conducted by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality reported that major depressive disorder will affect approximately 16 million American adults (about 6.7% of the US population) in a given year. ¹

Is depression a serious disease?

Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that, “Depressive illness can often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have the disorder, but to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person.” A national study of depression found that nearly all the respondents who reported a major depressive disorder also reported that their social and/or work lives were negatively affected by their illness.¹ In 2010, the economic burden of depression was estimated at $210 billion in the US² and depression was the second leading cause of disability, accounting for almost 20% of all years of life lost to disability and premature death.³ Depression can be a lethal disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, in 2017, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 47,000 people. Statistics show that 60% of whom suffer from depression.⁵

Is there a depression cure?

There is no known cure for depression but with effective treatment, many patients can remain symptom free.

Are some people more likely to become depressed than others?

There are many factors which can predispose certain people towards depression more than others. However, the exact causation between these factors and the occurrence of depression are still being researched and debated. Some of these risk factors include:

Suffering from certain medical illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and hormonal disorders
Hereditary predispositions to depression passed through genes.
Experiencing a serious loss, difficult relationship, financial problem, or any stressful change in life pattern.
Taking certain medications that may increase vulnerability to depression

What are the symptoms of depression?

According to the standard diagnosis guide (DSM-V) published by the American Psychiatric Association, depression is diagnosed when an individual is experiencing either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure plus four or more of the following depression symptoms during the same two-week period:

Significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain (a change of more than five percent of body weight in a month)
Significant increase or decrease in appetite
Excessive sleepiness or insomnia
Agitation and restlessness
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt nearly every day
Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

If you feel you are experiencing any of these depression symptoms, contact your doctor and speak with them about your depression treatment options.

What are the current approved treatments for depression?

Depression is most often treated with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and antidepressant medications administered together. Although antidepressants can be effective for many patients, they do not work for everybody. Additionally, since antidepressants are typically taken by mouth, they circulate in the bloodstream throughout the body, often resulting in unwanted side effects. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, for the treatment of depression in adults who have tried other antidepressant medicines but have not benefited from them. More than 4 million patients do not receive adequate benefit from antidepressant medications and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them. For these patients, alternative treatments are available which usually involve the use of a medical device. These treatments include: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

Depression help is available

Suicide Hotline:
1-800-273-8255