Everyone experiences sadness at times. But depression is something more. Depression is extreme sadness or despair that lasts more than days. It interferes with the activities of daily life and can cause physical symptoms such as pain, weight loss or gain, sleeping pattern disruptions, or lack of energy.
People with depression may also experience an inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Depression is the most common mental disorder. Fortunately, depression is treatable. A combination of therapy and antidepressant medication can help ensure recovery.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
News from APA
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Looking on the bright side also acts as a safeguard, according to 18-year study
Treating teens’ depression improves parents’ mental health, too
New research suggests family-wide effects of treatment for adolescent depression
Podcasts
Resources from APA
Depression and anxiety escalate during COVID
Rates of anxiety and depression among U.S. adults were about 4 times higher between April 2020 and August 2021 than they were in 2019.
How inflammation, stress, and other factors can lead to depression
Michael Treadway’s Emory University lab investigates how inflammation, stress, and other disruptions to the neural circuitry underlying motivation can lead to depression and other mental disorders
Speaking of Psychology: The holiday blues, with Elaine Rodino, PhD
Elaine Rodino, PhD, discusses the “holiday blues” and how to get through the season, this year and every year.
Psychological impact of COVID-19
Know the signs of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and suicide.
Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Depression
Continuing education
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Competitive Athletes
Identify the stressors and conditions that affect athlete mental health, and discuss special considerations for effective work with athletes.
Culturally Responsive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
Used a cognitive behavioral lens to discuss ways to increase cultural responsiveness of psychotherapy for anxiety and depression.
Presenters describe a range of cognitive and behavioral assessment and treatment strategies and review research supporting the short- and long-term effectiveness of the approach, moderators and predictors of change, and predictors of relapse and recurrence.
Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Depression and Serious Mental Health Conditions: WS203
Recovery-oriented cognitive therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in treating individuals diagnosed with a serious mental health condition.
