Depression
Definition
Depression is the general name for a family of illnesses known as depressive disorders. Depression is an illness that affects not only the mood and thoughts, but also the physical functions of affected individuals. Depressive disorders usually result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.
Description
Everyone feels sadness, grief, or despair at some point in their lives. However, unlike these normal, transient emotional states, a depressive disorder is not a temporary bout of "feeling down" but rather a serious disease that should be recognized and treated as a medical condition. Without treatment, a depressive disorder can persist and its symptoms can go on for weeks, months, or years. The three most common types of depression are dysthymia or...
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