Depression

What Is Depression?

Depression is a serious mood disorder causing persistent sadness and negative thoughts that interfere with your daily life.

It’s natural to feel unhappy occasionally — most people experience gloomy periods from time to time. But depression is more severe than temporary feelings of sadness. Without treatment, depression symptoms can persist for days, weeks or even years.

Depression affects your mood, thoughts, feelings, outlook and daily activities. It can also impact your whole body, including your sleep, appetite and physical health.

Depression can make it difficult for you to enjoy life. But help is available. Several effective treatments, including medications and talk therapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT), can help you heal and recover.

What are the types of depression?

The main types of depression are:

• Major depression: Severe symptoms last for at least two weeks and interfere with your daily activities.
• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymic disorder): Milder symptoms last longer, usually for two years or more.
• Postpartum depression (PPD): PPD develops within one year after giving birth. The cause is a combination of postpregnancy hormonal changes, fatigue and stress. Learn more about postpartum depression.

What does depression feel like?

Symptoms of depression range from mild to severe and affect everyone differently.

Depression symptoms can last for several weeks. They can also improve or go away for a while, only to return later. Symptoms include: 

• Low mood, along with feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, pessimism, despair and guilt
• Changes in appetite, which can cause weight loss or weight gain
• Chronic fatigue or low energy, along with feeling apathetic and unmotivated to do activities you once enjoyed
• Dependence on mood-altering substances, including alcohol and drugs, to make it through the day 
• Difficulty concentrating, focusing, making decisions or completing tasks 
• Recurrent thoughts of death, self-harm, or planned or attempted suicide
• Sleep disturbances, including trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or sleeping too much
• Withdrawal, isolation and avoiding interactions with family and friends

When should you see a medical professional?

Get immediate help if you have thoughts of harming yourself. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Talk to your primary care doctor if you have severe symptoms of depression that disrupt your life or affect your ability to care for yourself or others. You should also call your doctor if you have milder depression symptoms that don’t get better after a couple of weeks or if your symptoms improve and then come back. Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for care.

Why do you get depression?

Doctors think depression results from a combination of genetics, environmental stressors and other factors.

Depression is a common mood disorder, affecting 1 in 6 adults at some point in their lifetime. About 16 million people in the United States experience depression each year.

Although the exact cause of depression is unknown, doctors and researchers believe it results from a combination of factors, including:

• Chemical imbalances in the brain, especially low levels of serotonin, dopamine and other neurotransmitters, that cause depression symptoms
• Genetics, since depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions tend to run in families
• Traumatic events, including the death of a loved one, a difficult medical diagnosis, financial troubles and major life changes

Are you at risk for depression?

Depression can affect anyone at any age, but certain factors increase the risk.

Women are more likely than men to develop depression. It most commonly appears in the late teenage years or early 20s but can develop at any age. You’re at higher risk if you have a: 

• Personal history or family history of depression, anxiety or another mental health or mood disorder
• Substance use disorder, since alcohol and drugs can worsen depression symptoms
• Stressful or unstable living situation, since abuse, violence, poverty and other environmental factors play a major role in depression risk

Can depression be prevented?

It may not be possible to prevent depression, but you can take steps to lower your risk:

• Eat healthy, limit alcohol and avoid drugs and other substances
• Practice self-care, prioritize physical activity and try to get adequate sleep
• Strengthen your social support system by connecting with family and friends 
• Talk to your doctor or mental healthcare provider if you have a history of depression, so you can get help if symptoms appear

How do doctors diagnose depression?

Doctors evaluate your symptoms and review your medical history to diagnose depression.

Your doctor may:

• Ask about your symptoms, including how long you’ve had them and how severe they are
• Discuss your lifestyle habits, sleep patterns and daily routines 
• Talk to you about your history and your family history of depression, anxiety and mental health disorders
• Recommend a blood test to check for thyroid problems, anemia and other medical conditions that can cause or worsen depression 
   

How do doctors treat depression?

Treatments for depression, including medications and therapy, are safe and effective.

Your care team will recommend the most appropriate treatment for you, which may include: 

• Antidepressant medications 
• Psychotherapy (talk therapy or counseling), including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which stimulates the brain and improves depression symptoms

Your treatment plan may also include lifestyle changes. Your care team may suggest increasing your daily exercise, maintaining a healthy diet or joining a support group. Meditation, mindfulness and breathing exercises can also help you manage depression symptoms.

Our team offers expert depression care at the UCLA Health Mood Disorders Clinic. We have a history of innovation in understanding and treating depression, and we put our knowledge to work for you. As a UCLA Health patient, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial for depression treatment. If you are interested, ask your care team for more information.

Are there potential complications with depression?

Untreated depression can strain relationships, impact your job and affect your physical health. If you have symptoms of depression, talk to your doctor to get help.

What’s the outlook when you have depression?

Depression is serious, but it is one of the most treatable mental health disorders.

In fact, most people respond well to proper treatment for depression. Treatments are most successful when combined. For example, a treatment plan that includes antidepressant medications, talk therapy and lifestyle changes is more likely to improve symptoms.

If you have symptoms of depression, talk to your doctor. Your care team can help you feel better.