We offer specific suggestions with practical implications for future research. The analysis of individual symptoms and their causal associations offers a way forward. We suggest that the pervasive use of sum-scores to estimate depression severity has obfuscated crucial insights and contributed to the lack of progress in key research areas such as identifying biomarkers and more efficacious antidepressants. Furthermore, specific life events predict increases in particular depression symptoms, and there is evidence for direct causal links among symptoms. Here, we review a host of studies documenting that specific depressive symptoms like sad mood, insomnia, concentration problems, and suicidal ideation are distinct phenomena that differ from each other in important dimensions such as underlying biology, impact on impairment, and risk factors.

This method – and research results based on it – are valid if depression is a single condition, and all symptoms are equally good severity indicators.

The choice to seek evaluation and treatment is a very important first step on the path to feeling better.Most measures of depression severity are based on the number of reported symptoms, and threshold scores are often used to classify individuals as healthy or depressed. With treatment such as counselling and medicines, the symptoms of even major depression may start to improve in a few weeks. And it can have a serious impact on both you and the people you care about. It can cause other health problems, and it may last for years or even a lifetime.

In fact, untreated depression can get worse. Sometimes people who are deeply depressed feel that nothing will help.īut like other major health problems, depression cannot be overcome without treatment. Or they think they can get through it on their own. Many people with depression delay getting medical advice and treatment because they believe depression is not serious. If your symptoms include plans or thoughts about harming yourself or another person, contact your doctor or local hospital for help right away.Īlso get help right away from your doctor or local hospital if your symptoms include detachment from reality (psychosis) or excessive use of alcohol or drugs.

What is the opposite of depressed