"Teachers: Nikki neuron reminds you to check the standards tables in the front of the toolkit to see which ones apply for this lesson and your subject area."
What is Depression?
We all have periods of feeling sad, down, or blue, and that is normal, but the clinical condition known as depression is more than a passing mood. Depression is characterized by pronounced, pervasive feelings of sadness and/or emptiness and significant problems in coping. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things.
Depression is not the result of a character flaw or personal weakness, nor is it a condition that can be willed or wished away. People who are depressed can not merely “pull themselves together” and get better.1,2
If you are depressed, you can not simply make yourself well by trying to “snap out of it.” The good news, however, is that depression is a very treatable medical illness. Appropriate treatment can help most people, although without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years, sometimes returning with worsening severity. 3,4, 5
The direct causes of depression are unclear. However abnormal function of certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters is associated with depression, with onset often following a traumatic event, hormonal changes, altered health habits, the presence of another illness, or substance abuse.6 Although depression can run in families, it is not contagious. As with other illnesses such as heart disease, depression can come in different forms. Mental health professionals have identified several types of mood disorders that have depression as a component. The main classes of mood disorders are
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Substance-induced mood disorders
- Mood disorders due to a general medical condition
Within each class are subtypes, most of which will not be discussed here.
What Else is in the Teacher's Guide?
See below for a summary of what you will find in the rest of the Teacher's Guide.
You will need to register in order to view the entire contents.
For complete access, please register and log in.
Depressive Disorders
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Dysthymia
Bipolar Disorders
Substance-Induced Mood Disorders
Other Types of Depression
Postpartum Depression
Prevalence: Who Gets Depressed?
Depression in children
Depression among the elderly
Race and Class
Gender
Course of Depression and Outcomes
Risk Factors for Depression
Depression and Co-Morbidity
Sponsored by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry's Partners in Behavioral Health Sciences program which is made possible by support from a Science Education Partnership Award (R25 RR15976) from the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health.
Privacy Disclaimer: Information provided is used for the sole purpose of letting us know who uses the Toolkit, and for what purpose. Where you voluntarily provide personal information (e.g. registration), unless otherwise stated, we will only use that information to communicate with you. We will keep any such information secure and will not disclose it to any third parties without your consent.
© 2002-2006, University of Arkansas, Board of Trustees.
All rights reserved. 1-12
 |
