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Depression: Major Depression
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Depression is not simply a passing sadness or blue mood that lifts in a few hours or days, but is persistent. Different types of depressive disorders exist, including major depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder. Dysthymia is a less severe form of depression that does not disable the person but rather keeps him or her from fully functioning. Some types of depression run in families but environmental stimuli, such as heart disease, other illnesses and aging, may play a role.
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Depression in children has long been an overlooked health problem. While it is fairly well known to the general public that clinical depression is common (sometimes referred to as "the common cold of mental illness"), affecting 10 to 15 % of the adult population at some point in life, it is not commonly known that depression in childhood is ... a major health problem. In fact, depression in children is arguably more significant of an issue that is adult depression. For example, about 5% of children at any given time suffer from clinical depression; this naturally occurs during critical phases in child development, and not only can show itself with behaviors and feelings not commonly viewed as part of a "depression," but can interfere with the normal developmental processes of childhood.
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Depression is a type ofmental illness that sometimes affects children, causing them to feel sad, angry or frustrated for long periods of time. Major depression among children affects about 2 percent of children ages 6 to 12 years and 4 percent of adolescents, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
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Depression is a treatable illness, with many therapeutic options available. Increasingly, professionals are viewing major depression as a chronic illness (the condition nearly always returns when treatment is stopped). Therefore, medical intervention and help must be ongoing.
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In a separate pilot study presented at a poster session at the APA meeting by Dr. Charles DeBattista of Stanford University, PROVIGIL was shown to significantly reduce fatigue in patients with depression. In the four-week, prospective, open-label study of 24 adults with major depressive disorder who were being treated with antidepressant therapy, patients treated with PROVIGIL demonstrated significant reductions in fatigue, as measured by the Fatigue Symptom Inventory and Fatigue Analog Scale. Improvements in cognition were ... observed, particularly in concentration. Benefits were observed within two weeks of the start of therapy, and PROVIGIL was shown to be well tolerated in combination with a variety of antidepressants. The most reported side effect was headache.
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Although it may appear anytime from childhood to old age, depression usually begins during a person’s 20s or 30s. The illness may come on slowly, then deepen gradually over months or years. On the other hand, it may erupt suddenly in a few weeks or days. A person who develops severe depression may appear so confused, frightened, and unbalanced that observers speak of a “nervous breakdown.” However it begins, depression causes serious changes in a person’s feelings and outlook. A person with major depression feels sad nearly every day and may cry often. People, work, and activities that used to bring them pleasure no longer do.
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Major Depression