Overview
Depression is defined as a mood state indicating the absence
of a positive affect. It is further defined in the Introduction section.
Depression has affected an estimated 5% of adults worldwide.
A more detailed discussion on the prevalence of depression can be found in the Epidemiology section.
Multiple factors affect a person’s mood state. Effects of
neurotransmitter level changes in the brain and its role in mood regulation in depression
is said to be one of the factors and is discussed in the Pathophysiology section.
The Risk
Factors section discusses the interaction of the different
factors that predispose patients to depression such as life events and
biological factors.
History and Physical Examination
The Clinical Presentation and History sections enumerate the signs and symptoms of depression that will aid in properly diagnosing depression.
Diagnosis
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria is the main tool used in
diagnosing depression. This criteria and other assessment tools are in the Diagnosis or Diagnostic Criteria section.
The psychiatric and general medical disorders
that can overlap with the signs and symptoms of depression are enumerated in
the Differential Diagnosis
section.
Management
The goals of treatment and factors to consider in choosing a
treatment modality (eg psychotherapy, pharmacologic therapy, neurostimulation
therapy, etc) to be in a patient with depression are listed in the Principles of Therapy section.
Various therapeutic agents that can be used in the
management of depression are in the Pharmacological
Therapy section. Some examples include selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs), noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI), and serotonin and norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Supportive care and the different types of psychotherapy, neurostimulation
therapy and chronotherapy that can be employed in patients with depression are
discussed in detail in the Nonpharmacological
section.
Patient monitoring is an important part of the
management of depression. Frequency of follow up and monitoring of patients
with depression is discussed in the Monitoring
section.
