Depression.com |
Glossary
antidepressants Drugs used to treat depression. bipolar disorder A type of depression that causes severe high and low moods. depression A disorder associated with low mood that prevents a person from leading a normal life. dysthymia Chronic depression that reoccurs over a period of at least two years in adults and one year in children and adolescents. electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) A procedure in which an electric current is briefly applied to produce a seizure. It is used for quick relief of depression symptoms or to ease depression that doesn't respond to other forms of treatment. major depression Depression that is disabling and long-lasting. phototherapy Used to treat seasonal affective disorder, phototherapy involves exposure to light from a box of white fluorescent light tubes. postpartum depression Occurs in a mother after giving birth. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may appear within days of delivery or gradually, perhaps up to a year later. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to a year. psychiatrists Medical doctors who specialize in treating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. psychologists Specialists who concentrate in the science of the mind and behavior. Psychologists are not medical doctors and typically cannot prescribe medication, but do perform evaluations and use psychotherapy. psychotherapy Depression treatment involving talking to a therapist. seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Depression that occurs each year at the same time, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer. St. John's Wort An herbal remedy sometimes used for depression. It's unclear whether it actually works. |
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