Treating clinical depression |
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SymptomsClinical depression (or major depression) is a mental disorder which is mainly characterized by two symptoms: - a depressed mood most of the day, particularly in the morning, - a loss of interest in normal activities and relationships. These two symptoms are present for at least two weeks every day. Other symptoms include: - Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day, - Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day, - Impaired concentration, indecisiveness, - Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day, - Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (called anhedonia, often including sexual anhedonia), - Restlessness or feeling slowed down, - Recurring thoughts of death or suicide, - Significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), Treating a clinical depressionPsychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy are indicated in most cases. Yet in the most severe ones, it is accompanied by a medical treatment to ease the pain for a certain period of time. |