Mood Disorders

Depression, at the level of an illness, is a process in which a person feels unhappy and low, in which hopelessness about the future grows and thoughts of worthlessness take hold. Not every sorrow or low mood is depression; passing periods of sadness are part of life. To speak of depression as an illness, these feelings must last a long time and reach a level that affects the person's daily life, their relationships with others, their working life and their self-care. With the right diagnosis, the right medication and therapy it can be treated; left untreated it can lead to serious losses and even to death by suicide.

An illness that can include three phases — depressive, manic and well — experienced in cycles. There are depressive periods of deep low mood, slowness and loss of will, and at other times the opposite: manic periods of excessive activity and energy. Genetic predisposition is high, medication is essential, and family support matters a great deal. When the patient becomes aware of their illness, episodes can be recognised early and passed through more gently.