| Unipolar depression is a severe form of depression. It | | | | replacement. |
| also goes by the terms of clinical depression and | | | | How would you recognize this disease in a person? |
| major-depressive disorder. | | | | The checklist below possibly indicates someone |
| It is a severe illness with disabling effects. It affects | | | | suffering from unipolar depression. |
| 10 million Americans every year. Depression affects | | | | # A lack of interest in the simple pleasures of life |
| more women than men. | | | | # Irritable and always sad |
| Unipolar depression should not be mistaken for the | | | | # Drastic changes in your eating and sleeping habits |
| other form of depression that is more violent - manic | | | | # Loss of appetite and do not like any kind of food |
| depression. Manic depression is associated with suicidal | | | | # Can't sleep and constantly tense |
| tendencies and violence towards other people. | | | | # Unable to concentrate or think clearly |
| Unipolar depression causes a person to be | | | | # Feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness |
| disinterested in normal activities and to feel unhappy. | | | | # Guilty feelings for no reason. |
| Normal activities like sleeping and eating too are | | | | # Suicidal tendencies |
| affected. | | | | # Frequent fatigue |
| It is a chronic disease - meaning it is a long term | | | | These intense feelings may result in severe |
| disease or condition. Once a person has this condition | | | | headaches and other chronic pain which may not |
| it will recur at least once in their lifetime. For some | | | | respond to any form of treatment. People suffering |
| others it will recur many times. Depression episodes | | | | from this type of depression may exhibit one or a |
| can last from 6 to 9 months when they recur in a | | | | few of these symptoms. |
| chronically ill person. | | | | Common myths surrounding depression are: |
| Such a depression occurs across all age groups and | | | | # That it is the elderly who are solely prone to it |
| no socio-economic background is exempt. However, | | | | # It is caused by flaws in a person's character |
| it occurs more commonly in those between 25 and | | | | # It is a state of the mind and therefore treatment |
| 44 years of age. | | | | is not needed |
| What causes unipolar depression? In some people it is | | | | Possible treatment options that a doctor may |
| spontaneous and independent of any specific event. | | | | prescribe include: |
| In other it arises from trauma or severe shock. | | | | 1. Antidepressant drugs |
| Some scientists also believe genetics are involved. | | | | 2. Cognitive therapy |
| Moreover it can be brought on by improper nutrition, | | | | 3. Psychotherapy |
| hormonal imbalances and social factors and finally | | | | 4. Electroconvulsive therapy |
| medications for other illnesses. There are anecdotes | | | | 5. Lifestyle modification like diet, exercise and quitting |
| of patients experiencing depression after a major | | | | smoking. |
| surgery as well like simultaneous double knee joint | | | | |