Depression

• People of all walks of life go through periods where they feel sad and down. It's normal to have a couple of days in a row where you just feel gloomy. However, prolonged sadness is considered depression. Scientists have noticed patterns in families suggesting that it can be caused by genetics. Experts specifically believe that depression is caused by imbalances in the brain, but the exact cause still remains a mystery.
  
  

Types of Depression

• Since depression is a group of illnesses and does not have one specific cause, there are many different types of depression. Major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder are the most common types of depression. Major depressive disorder affects many people at least once in their lives but is known to have recurring episodes. The disorder is said to be incapacitating and those affected by it have trouble sleeping. Dysthymic disorder is usually long-term over a few years with less severe symptoms. However, people with Dysthymic disorder still will have trouble being productive.
  
  

Depression Symptoms

• A common symptom of depression is general sadness.sad image by Alexandra Gnatush-Kostenko from Fotolia.com
  
  There are a number of symptoms those with depression will show. The first, and most obvious, is showing a general look of despair and emotional distress. Victims will also be very negative and irritable. When a victim of depression is not getting sleep, she will show signs of fatigue and loss of energy. Changes in appetite are also normal. If you notice someone's weight has drastically changed, it may be her way of coping with the depression to binge eat or not eat at all. Each of these symptoms alone may mean nothing, but together they point to depression.
  
  

MADRS and Depression

• MADRS is an acronym for Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. It is used by professionals to assess the seriousness of a victim's depression. Scores are out of 10 points, with zero meaning no depression whatsoever. Testers give one point for level of anxiety, one point for magnitude of changes in appetite, one point for magnitude of changes in sleep, one point for difficulty in activities, and one point for both level of concentration and pessimism. Besides these is the mood category, which has a maximum of four points.
  
  

Depression Treatment

• Prescription medication can help depression patients.drugs image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
  
  Before depression can be treated, it has to be detected by a professional. If someone suspects that he suffers from depression, he needs to make an appointment with his or her doctor so he can rule out viruses and thyroid disorders which have some of the same symptoms as depression. Once those conditions are ruled out, doctors use MADRS to assess a patient's condition. Depending on the type and seriousness of the condition, this patient will receive medication or therapy, or both.