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Depression: What Is It, Who Gets It, And How Is It Treated?
By: Lindsay Israel, MD, Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist provides a clinician’s view of debilitating depression: what it looks like, who’s likely to get it, and what are current treatment modalities
I am a board-certified psychiatrist and I have been providing treatment for depression to patients for over 10 years.
There is no doubt that one of the most common reasons people finally take the leap and see me is to help them with debilitating depression. I use the term “debilitating” very intentionally. This is because in these cases the symptoms of clinical depression are causing intense distress and dysfunction for the person more days than not.
I have taken care of people of all ages, backgrounds, and stages of life who are suffering from this disorder.
A common thread in depression is hopelessness
A common thread amongst all of these patients is the extreme hopelessness they experience. It feels like a black hole with no way out. Hopelessness is one of nine potential symptoms that paint the dark, muddied picture of depression.
Other symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder as defined by the DSM-V are:
- depressed mood
