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Depression treatment

Description

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, characterized by a constant depressed mood; marked by a significant lack of interest in attending to regular activities and routine tasks; often bordering on totally neglecting ones’ personal hygiene; associated with feelings of guilt, low self-esteem and self-confidence, insomnia, inability to concentrate, lack of appetite, physical and menta View more...

Causes

There can be several causes for clinical depression and some of the main causes of depression are biological factors; genetic or hereditary factors which we often refer to as nature; psychosocial factors which we often refer to as nurture; and/or environmental factors. While in most cases it is one of the above-mentioned factors that causes depression; there are cases where it is a combination of one or more of these factors that are responsible for causing clinical depression in children, teens, adults, and the elderly.
Having said the above, irrespective of the causative factors responsible for clinical depression, it is ultimately caused by an imbalance in certain chemicals in the brain referred to as neurotransmitters. The three main neurotransmitters that are responsible for depression are dopamine, nor-epinephrine, and serotonin. Hence, the underlying fact is that any form of imbalance created in any one or more of these neurotransmitters results in depression. Scientific research is being carried out to determine the specific reasons that contribute to the fluctuation in the levels of these neurotransmitters; however the various triggers that influence the change in brain chemistry include:
• Heredity: People with a family history of seasonal depression and bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of suffering from these conditions.
• Personal and Professional circumstances: Certain life-altering or traumatic experiences in the professional or personal life often act as triggers that contribute to the imbalance in neurotransmitter levels. Example: Post-partum depression.
• Pharmacological drugs: Prescription medications like drugs for hypertension; insomnia; and birth control pills taken for extended periods of time could lead to depression.
• Medical ailments: Chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s diseases, partial or total paralysis, Parkinson’s disease and other physical disabilities often lead to depression.
• Substance abuse: This is a vicious cycle; people often believe that people abuse recreational drugs to escape depression; however, studies indicate that addiction to various drugs could cause depression.
• Stress/trauma: Certain stressful situations like divorce; loss of a loved one; unemployment; child abuse; end up creating a lot of stress which is unable to cope with, resulting in depression.
All of the above factors act as triggers and if they go unchecked could lead to depression in children, teens, as well as adults. View more...

Prevention

Staying positive; engaging in activities that are physically and mentally stimulating; cultivating new hobbies; exercising, practicing yoga and meditation; reading; learning to be open about ones’ feelings, expressing oneself by talking to a confidant or friend, through dance, art, painting etc., Eating health food by including lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, liquids, water, omega-3 fatty acid su View more...

Common Symptoms

Symptoms of depression can be classified into two broad categories:
a) Psychological symptoms
b) Physiological symptoms
Psychological symptoms:
• Characteristic symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and a constant sense of negativity and pessimism characterize ones’ thought process and approach to work, people, and activities.
• Irritability, general sense of dissatisfact View more...

Rare Symptoms

Rare Symptoms
• Delusions and hallucinations are rare symptoms of a form of depression called psychotic depression, where the person suffering from this condition imagines to someone else and sees and hears voices that are really not present.
• Increased motor activities, stupor, strange involuntary motions, and imitating other people are some of the rare symptoms of catatonic depression.

Traditional Treatment

Conventional Treatments for depression include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, alternative treatments, and electroconvulsive treatment or ECT. Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavior therapy, group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy. Pharmacotherapy includes tricyclics also knows as TCAs, monoamine oxidase
inhibitors or MAOIs like tranylcypromine or Parnate, isocarboxazid or
Mar View more...

Alternative Treatment

Natural remedies including using herbal medications made using St. John’s wort; gingko biloba; ginseng; passion flower or passiflora incarnate, holy basil, glycyrrhiza glabra, rosemary, thyme, and yohimbine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM advocates use of acupuncture in treating depression to clear blockages in an attempt to release energy and help free flow of energy through various channel View more...

Treatment Comparison

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Show results for:

Brands	Effectiveness	Holistic Benefits	Side Effects	Number of Ratings
Lexapro	5.79	6.18	3.68	42
Prozac	5.39	5.71	4.64	54
Pristiq	4.35	5.25	5.67	57
Cymbalta	4.16	5.01	5.57	49
Citalopram Hydrobromide	3.28	4.76	5.86	60
Emitrip	0	0	0	0

View All	About these Scores
	Choose a condition to compare treatments based on user feedback. You can sort by Effectiveness, Holistic Benefits or Side Effects RateADrug user scores, or the number of Ratings. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Depression Treatments

(Shown in order of most frequently rated)

149 Drugs

36 Supplements

Emitrip

Cathinone

Endep

Fluvoxamine Maleate

Moclobemide

Desipramine Hydrochloride

Lorazepam Intensol

Reboxetine

Trialodine

Lithane

Lithium Carbonate

Lithium Citrate

Lithobid

Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid

Sarafem

Amineptine

Amitril

Amoxapine

Asendin

Aventyl Hydrochloride

Cannabidiol

Cannabidivarin

Carfentanil

Clomipramine Hydrochloride

Dibenzepin

Etoperidone

Fluacizine

Iproniazid

Janimine

Limbitrol

Limbitrol DS

Loraz

Loxapine Succinate

Loxinate

Ludiomil

Maprotiline Hydrochloride

Marplan

Melitracen

Mesterolone

Milnacipran

>	Graviola
>	Vitamin B2
>	Beet
>	Rhodiola
>	Yerba Mate
>	Tyrosine
>	Ginkgo Biloba
>	Gokshura
>	Valerian
>	Maca
>	Lemon Balm
>	Boswellia
>	Ginkgo
>	Damiana
>	Melatonin
>	DHEA
>	St. John's Wort
>	Source Naturals 5-HTP
>	Nature Made Balanced B-50 Complex
>	Jatamansi
>	Phenylalanine
>	Crocus
>	Hamamelis
>	Helleborus
>	Brazilian Peppertree
>	Tayuya
>	Betel Nut
>	Sesame Oil
>	Muriatic Acid
>	Cabbage Rose
>	Vitamin D3
>	Vitamin D
>	5-HTP
>	SAMe
>	Folic acid
>	Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Famous People with Depression

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Mary Kate Olsen

Mary Kate Olsen has struggled with depression, ADD and the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.

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Owen Wilson

Owen Wilson has struggled with depression for years, and despite taking anti-depressants tried to commit suicide in 2007.

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Sheryl Crow

When Crow suffered a bad stretch of depression in 2003, the musician began an exercise routine and took Prozac to assist in her recovery.

SmallJim_Carrey_horton_hears_a_who_2008-crop.jpg

Jim Carrey

This comedian is self-proclaimed to be a "weird, serious person," and has been battling clinical depression since childhood.

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Larry King

Late night talk show host Larry King had a bout with depression after having heart surgery in 1987.

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