Depression Basics
What % of US adults have experienced one major depressive episode over the past year?
In the United States, 8.3% of adults (10.3% of females and 6.2% of males) are estimated to have had at least one major depressive episode over the past year (NIMH, 2023).
This depression symptom involves physical tiredness and a severe lack of energy that does not go away with sleep. What is that typically called?
Fatigue
If these people have a history of depression, you are put at a higher risk for depression
Name 2 common treatments for depression
Behavioral Activation (BA)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Medication
Name 3 symptoms of depression
Depressed mood
Decreased interest or pleasure in activities most of the day, nearly every day.
Weight loss, gain, or change in appetite
Difficulty sleeping, decrease in overall sleep, or increase in sleep.
Feeling restless and moving more than usual or experiencing a noticeable slowing in physical movement and speech.
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
Feeling worthless or excessively/inappropriately guilty nearly every day.
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
In what ways can depression impact your appetite?
Some people will notice reduced appetite and others will notice increased appetite, which may result in weight changes
Name two examples of major life events that may trigger depression.
Loss, traumatic event, major life changes (divorce, moving), pregnancy, traumatic injury
What is the main goal of Behavioral Activation?
To reduce avoidance behaviors and increase activities shown to improve depression.
Engaging in just 10 minutes of daily physical activity releases these natural "feel-good" chemicals in the brain.
Endorphins
To be diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, a persistently low or sad mood must typically last for at least this long
Two weeks
In what ways can depression impact sleep?
Difficulty sleeping, decrease in overall sleep, or increase in sleep.
What common treatment for depression involves challenging, reframing and changing our thoughts in order to change our feelings?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This practice focuses on staying anchored in the present moment through breathing exercises, rather than worrying about the past or future.
Mindfulness
To be diagnosed with Persistent Depressive Disorder you must experience clinically significant symptoms of depression continuously for how long?
Two years
This symptom, commonly referred to as "brain fog," causes adults to struggle with prioritizing tasks or making simple choices at work.
Difficulty concentrating
What treatment for depression involves building up distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness skills to cope with depression
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
These chemical messengers in the brain, like serotonin, help regulate mood and are often targeted by antidepressants.
Neurotransmitters
In what ways can depression impact your physical movement?
Some people might feel restless and moving more than usual or experiencing a noticeable slowing in physical movement and speech.
Name one neurotransmitter involved in depression
Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine