54 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • OCTOBER 19, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
The myths and facts about depression
Th ere are some myths about major
depressive disorder (MDD, depression)
that may make it diffi cult for people experiencing
symptoms to reach out for help.
It’s time to learn the facts.
MYTHS AND FACTS
ABOUT DEPRESSION:
MYTH: Depression only aff ects mood.
FACT: Many people think of depression
as simply being sad. But depression
is more than sadness. Other symptoms
include loss of interest, tiredness
or insomnia, diffi culty concentrating,
change in appetite or weight, noticeably
moving or speaking slowly, or feeling a
lot of guilt. People with depression do
not all experience the same symptoms,
and the severity, frequency and duration
can vary.
MYTH: Most people with depression
seek professional help.
FACT: Based on an epidemiology survey,
only 50 percent of adults who met the
criteria for a depression diagnosis for one
year actually receive some form of treatment
for their condition.
MYTH: Depression is not that common.
FACT: Th ere are approximately 14 million
Americans ages 18 and older who live
with depression annually. Th at’s more
than 6 percent of U.S. adults.
MYTH: Depression is purely psychological.
FACT: Depression is thought to be
caused by a combination of genetic, biological,
environmental, and psychological
factors.
Major depressive disorder (MDD,
depression) is one of the most common
mental health conditions in the United
States and nearly 35 million Americans
over the age of 18 will experience depression
in their lifetime. Many people think
depression is just sadness and it’s important
people understand all of the symptoms
of this complex medical condition.
“Aft er talking to my doctor about all
of my symptoms, together we fi gured
out a treatment plan for me. Aft er taking
TRINTELLIX® (vortioxetine), I started
to notice an improvement in my overall
depression symptoms,” said Ruth, a
working mom who was diagnosed with
depression.
Th ere are many people who experience
symptoms of depression and remain
untreated. Due to the complex nature of
depression, some people experience a few
symptoms while others may experience
many symptoms.
“Symptoms of depression may aff ect
people diff erently, including the way
they think, feel and act, contributing to
the complexity of the disorder,” said Dr.
Gregory Mattingly, Associate Clinical
Professor, Department of Psychiatry,
Washington University School of
Medicine. “It’s important that people talk
to their doctor about their symptoms
and fi nd a treatment plan that works for
them.”
People who may be experiencing symptoms
of depression should talk to their
doctor.
For more information about depression
and a potential treatment option, visit
TRINTELLIX.com.
Courtesy BPT