Depression

Overview

Mayo Clinic specialists have extensive experience in treating mild to serious depression, and treating patients whose disorders are complicated by other medical problems. A large psychiatric treatment group cares for patients of all ages with depression, either as outpatients or inpatients. Mayo Clinic in Rochester offers a Mood Disorders Program for patients suffering from depression.

Diagnosing Depression

An initial evaluation involves questions regarding symptoms, overall health and personal concerns. Questionnaires and psychological tests are used to identify specific symptoms. A physical exam determines if there is a physical illness in addition to depression. Read more about diagnosis of depression.

Treatment Options

A health care team sets and monitors goals for each patient to ensure the best care possible. Many patients with depression show significant improvement when taking carefully selected antidepressants. Besides medication, several forms of psychotherapy are available to identify and modify behavior patterns. Light therapy is often used for patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), one form of depression. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be effective for severe and prolonged depression that doesn't respond to other treatment. Read more about treatment options for depression.

• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota

About Depression

Depression is a serious illness that causes changes in mood, thinking, physical well-being and behavior. It can affect all aspects of a person's life. It is caused by a complex set of physical, psychological and environmental factors.

Sometimes, a stressful life event can trigger depression. In other cases, depression seems to occur spontaneously with no identifiable cause. No matter what triggers it, depression is much more than grieving or a bout of the blues.

Depression may occur only once in a person's life. Often, however, it occurs repeatedly with depression-free periods in between. Or it may be a chronic condition, requiring ongoing treatment over a lifetime. The disorder affects more than 18 million Americans of all ages and races. Medications are available that are generally safe and effective, even for the most severe depression. With proper treatment, most people with serious depression improve, often within weeks, and can return to normal daily activities.

Read more at
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