Transcript Depression
Depression
Purdue University North Central Student Counseling Center
LSF 103B
219-785-5373
Student Counseling Webpage
What are the symptoms?
Depressed
mood (feeling sad or empty)
most of the day, nearly every day
Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Significant weight loss or weight gain
(change of more than 5% body weight in
a month)
Insomnia (trouble sleeping) or
hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
Symptoms
Psychomotor agitation (physical and emotional
responses sped up) or retardation (physical and
emotional responses slowed down)
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feeling worthless or excessive/inappropriate guilt
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or
indecisiveness
Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation,
suicide attempts, or having a plan for suicide.
Others may notice depression
if you:
Consistently making negative statements
about themselves
-Withdrawing from social involvement
-Increasing in irritability or angry outbursts
-Losing interest in sexual activity
-Begin complaining of frequent headaches,
stomachaches, or muscle pain
Who does it affect?
Over
50% of university students report
feeling depressed at some point since
their freshman year of college
15% of college students meet the criteria
for clinical depression
Women are twice as likely to experience
depression as men (though this may be
related to gender differences in the way
sadness is expressed)
Related Symptoms
Anxiety
Substance
abuse
Common Myths
Depression is not a real medical problem.
-Extensive research has indicated genuine
biological and genetic factors that contribute
to the development of depression, not just
psychological factors.
Depression can be changed by “positive
thinking” if a person is strong enough.
-Depression is not something people can “snap
out of” with positive thinking, as research
shows that it can change brain structure and
alter thoughts and perceptions.
Common Myths cont.
Depression will go away on its own.
-Without treatment, depression can last for
months, years, or worse: it can result in suicide,
the 3rd leading cause of death for Americans
between 18-24.
Depression only results from traumatic events,
such as the death of a loved one.
- Sometimes, painful events in life can bring
about a depressive episode, but for many
people it occurs when everything in life seems
to be going smoothly.
How can you know?
Periods
of sadness are normal throughout
your life, so to help determine the
difference:
Depression Screening website:
Completely anonymous and confidential
Does not provide a clinical diagnosis, but
can give you some idea of whether you
(or someone you care about) should seek
professional help
What makes depression
worse?
Ignoring
the problem, denying the
problem, or waiting for it to go away
Alcohol
Drugs
Social isolation from friends and family
Poor diet
Poor sleeping habits/schedule
What can you do?
Accept
that the problem exists
Stay active
Limit alcohol consumption
Increase social activity
Eat a balanced diet, and don’t skip meals
Help is Available:
Seek
professional help.
Students- Contact PNC Student Counseling
Center at 219 785 5373 or come to the office
at LSF 103B
Faculty/Staff
- Contact PNC Wellness
Department at 219 785 5519 or come to the
office at Schwarz 25
References
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and
statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., Text
Revision). Washington, DC: Author.
Fava M, Cassano P. Mood disorders: Major depressive
disorder and dysthymic disorder. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum
JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusette
General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed.
Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 29.
Kessler, R. C., McGonagle, K. A., Zhao, S., Nelson, C. B.,
Hughes, M., Eshleman, S., Wittchen, H.U., & Kendler, K.S.
(1994). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R
psychiatric disorders in the United States. Results from the
National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General
Psychiatry, 51, 8-19
References (continued)
Furr, Susan R.; Westefeld, John S.; McConnell,
Gaye N.; Jenkins, J. Marshall (2001).
Professional Psychology: Research and
Practice, 32, 97-100.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Larson, J., & Grayson, C.
(1999). Explaining the gender difference in
depressive symptoms. Journal of Personality
and Social Psychology, 77, 1061-1072