Understanding depression

Depression is a mental health condition that can significantly affect everyday life, leading to emotional, physical, and cognitive difficulties that persist over time.

Dr Shazad Farooq, leading consultant adult and forensic psychiatrist, provides an expert insight into depression, discussing the symptoms it presents, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment options available for those affected.

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a disinterest in activities that were previously enjoyable. It is more than just a temporary emotional reaction to life’s challenges; depression is a long-term condition that affects how you feel, think, and function.

While the experience of depression varies from person to person, the most indicative symptoms of the condition are:

• persistent sadness or a consistently low mood
• loss of interest in activities
• fatigue and lack of energy, even for basic tasks
• feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• sleep disturbances, including insomnia or hypersomnia
• unexplained aches and pains, digestive problems, and headaches

In severe cases, depression can lead to thoughts of self-harm or suicide, which should be taken seriously and addressed immediately.

How is depression clinically diagnosed?

The diagnosis of depression requires a comprehensive assessment by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, who will perform a thorough psychological evaluation, assessing your mood, thoughts, behaviours, and overall medical history.

According to mental health guidelines, depression is clinically diagnosed when a person experiences at least five depressive symptoms for a continuous two-week period. Once diagnosed, your psychiatrist will evaluate the severity of the depression, which can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of symptoms and their effect on daily functioning.

How is depression treated?

Treatment requires a multifaceted approach to address the biological, psychological, and social factors involved with depression.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the initial treatment option for mild to moderate depression. One effective psychotherapy technique is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which assists in identifying negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to depression. This approach then enables the development of coping strategies to challenge those negative thoughts and grow healthier thinking habits.

Other forms of therapy include interpersonal therapy, which focuses on improving relationships, and psychodynamic therapy, which explores unconscious thoughts and feelings that may be contributing to depression.

Medication

For moderate to severe depression, antidepressant medications may be prescribed to help regulate the brain chemicals that affect mood. Common types of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine and sertraline.

Further treatments

For severe depression that doesn’t respond to medication or therapy, alternative treatments may be considered. Options such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are advanced therapies that can help manage depressive symptoms.

If you would like to book an appointment with Dr Shazad Farooq, head on over to his Top Doctors profile today.