According to Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, M.D., the Chief Medical Officer at Capital Health Plan, people with depression have persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness which interfere with normal activities.

These feelings can be mild to severe. Sometimes, she says, they can be a result of adjustment to life changes such as a death of a loved one or loss of a job. They can also be hormonal changes such as having a baby, or they can be seasonal changes which change the amount of light in the environment. There is also a genetic component

Dr. Van Vessem says it is important to determine the type of depression because the treatment varies. If someone is diagnosed with Major Depression, Dr. Van Vessem says the best treatment approach is a combination of medication and counseling. It is very important that the patient stay on the medication for at least 6 months because stopping the medication early can lead to more future recurrences of depression.

On the other hand, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that some anti-depressant medications weren’t very effective for mild to moderate depression and people did well with non-medical approaches.

There are depression scoring tools available which can differentiate between mild and severe depression.

So what if you don't want to turn to medication? Dr. Van Vessem says there are things you can do to help yourself like being physical. She says it's been known for many years that physical activity improves mood. Exercise makes people feel better emotionally. Also talking through issues with someone you trust whether that person is a counselor, your family or friend or someone at your church helps. When in doubt see your primary care physician for advice about best next steps.

For more information about depression and its treatments, click on the link at the top of this page.