Major Depression and Treating Depression With Antidepressants Q and A

These are several questions and answers about the disease called depression. Please read all of these carefully, since it is very important that you understand your disease as thoroughly as possible.

Instructions to Patients to be Read Before the Patient Leaves His Office
Joseph H. Talley, M.D.

l. WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

It is a disease affecting the entire mind and body, causing a person to feel miserable in many ways. Changes in brain chemistry make it happen. It is a brain disease.

2. WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?

We do not know. We used to think it was due to something unhappy in a person's life or to some psychological hang-up. We now know, however, that this disease happens to people who have no reason "to be depressed." In other words, depression can strike normal and healthy people too.

3. DOES HAVING A DEPRESSION MEAN THAT A PERSON IS GOING "CRAZY"?

No, but it will very often make him think he is.

4. IS IT A COMMON DISEASE?

Yes, it is the most common disease seen in all of medicine; however, it is often confused with other illnesses. For example, many people who think, or who are told, they have low blood, vitamin deficiency, sinus headaches, low sugar, menopause, burnout, and "all run-down and need a rest" actually have depression that causes their troubles.

5. WHAT TROUBLE DOES A PERSON HAVE WHO HAS DEPRESSION?

A person who has depression will usually feel most of the following things:

1. He will feel very tired all the time, even when he has not worked or exerted himself very much. He will be just as tired on days when he has rested as on days when he has worked hard.
2. His sleep will usually be affected in one of two ways. He will either go to sleep and then wake up during the night and remain awake, or else he will sleep too much - even during the day. He will not get restful sleep.
3. He will feel very irritable. He will get upset very easily over little things that ordinarily would not upset him.
4. He will feel very sad for no reason, and, in fact, may break into tears without knowing why.
5. His normal sex drive will be decreased; in fact, it often will go away altogether.
6. He will often have a headache that is present most of the time. Almost any chronic pain elsewhere such as in the stomach or back can be caused by depression. These pains are not imaginary; they are quite real and often severe.
7. He will find it difficult to enjoy things. He will feel little enthusiasm even for things he used to look forward to.
8. His will often be constipated or have other digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain or diarrhea. He may lose or gain weight.
9. He will find it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, remember things and getting things done.
10. He will feel like he is an ineffective, worthless person, even though there is no reason to feel that way.

6. IS THIS REALLY A SERIOUS DISEASE?

Yes. In a mild depression, the person will often think he just has a case of the blues, or that he is just getting older. His efficiency will be affected. In a more severe depression, it is a very serious disease. This disease can cause a previously healthy and happy person to kill himself.

7. CAN A PERSON DO ANYTHING TO FIGHT BRAIN DISEASE?

Not by his own efforts. This is a disease over which a person has no control, and it will do him no good to "try to fight this myself."

8. IS THERE ANY EFFECTIVE TREATMENT?

Very much so. There are several medicines which are usually very effective in treating depression. They are also very safe medicines.

9. ARE THERE MEDICINES, TRANQUILIZERS, SLEEPING PILLS, PAIN PILLS, HORMONE PILLS?

No, none of these. The medications that help are called antidepressants.