Signs and Symptoms

Depression is a common, yet serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. There are different categories of depression: persistent depressive disorder, a depressed mood which can last up to two years. post-partum depression, psychotic depression, a combination of psychosis and depression, and seasonal affect disorder, depression which occurs during specific times of year such as winter.

Causes and Treatment

Sings and symptoms of depression include, feeling of helplessness or hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities, appetite or weight change, sleep change, anger or irritability, loss of energy, self-loathing, reckless behavior, difficulty concentrating, and unexplained aches and pains.

Treatment Options Include 

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) — Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft(sertraline), and Celexa (citalopram).

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)—Effexor (venlafaxine), Cymbalta  (duloxetine) and Pristiq (deslavenfaxine).

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) —Wellbutrin (bupropion)