1. Depression Richie Jacko Pd8 10-28-09

2. Definition A disease with certain characteristic signs and symptoms that interferes with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.

3. What is Depression? Depression is a mental health disorder that can affect the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. A depressive disorder is more than a passing mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness, and it cannot be willed or wished away.

4. Symptoms Loss of interest in normal daily activities Feeling sad or down Feeling hopeless Crying spells for no apparent reason Problems sleeping Trouble focusing or concentrating Difficulty making decisions Unintentional weight gain or loss Irritability Restlessness Being easily annoyed Feeling fatigued or weak Feeling worthless Loss of interest in sex Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

5. Facts Of the estimated 17.5 million Americans who are affected by some form of depression, 9.2 million have major or clinical depression Two-thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek necessary treatment 80% of all people with clinical depression who have received treatment significantly improve their lives The economic cost of depression is estimated at $30.4 billion a year but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated Women experience depression about twice as often as men By the year 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will be the number two cause of "lost years of healthy life" worldwide According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suicide was the ninth leading cause of death in the United States in 1996 Major Depression is 1.5-3.0 times more common among first- degree biological relatives of those with the disorder than among the general population

6. Treatments Therapy Medication And Lifestyle Changes That Can Help

7. www.mayoclinic.com/.../depression/.../DSECTION=s ymptoms http://mentalhealth.about.com/od/depression /a/depression1.htm