While the images of that horrible tragedy continue to burn in our collective memories, there’s been at least one positive outcome: more people have been willing to step forward and discuss a serious medical condition that for too long has been shunned and overlooked. However, even with this recent outpouring of assistance for those who have suffered from depression, many experts believe not enough people are seeking help and that doctors should play a more active role in identifying patients who are experiencing it.
Depression screening was at the center of a recent set of recommendations made by a team of physicians from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This group of primary-care doctors concluded that the first step in treating the 19 million Americans who suffer from the condition is screening all adults during their annual medical exam. This recommendation is certainly a change from their 1996 position, which said there wasn’t enough evidence to advise regular formal screening.
Why is this recommendation so important? A look at the numbers tells a large part of the story. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, up to half of all adult patients who suffer from depression go undiagnosed. Twenty-five percent of women and 10 percent of men will experience depression at some point during their lifetime. Yet if properly identified, more than 80 percent of all cases of clinical depression can be effectively treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.
One of the first steps in recognizing depression is realizing that it’s completely normal to have feelings of sadness and to grieve. We all will experience some melancholy in our lives, whether it’s caused by the death of a loved one, losing a job, going through a divorce or other rueful matters. The good news, however, is that most people can make it through trying times without becoming clinically depressed. A red flag should be raised if the sadness or depressed mood continues for a long period of time and begins to affect one’s ability to function.
The committee didn’t make any specific recommendations for children and adolescents, but this by no means implies that it’s not a serious condition in the younger population, as well. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, up to 2.5 percent of children and 8.3 percent of adolescents suffer from depression.
If you (or your children) experience five or more of the following symptoms for longer than two weeks, or if they are severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily routine, seek help from a qualified mental-health professional. The symptoms include:
A persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Sleeping too little or sleeping too much
Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Restlessness or irritability
Persistent physical symptoms that don’t respond to treatment (such as headaches, chronic pain or constipation and other digestive disorders)
Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
Thoughts of death or suicide
