Doctors define depression as intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness that interfere with the performance of daily tasks. Many types of depression exist, including major depression, psychotic depression, dysthymic depression, postpartum...
While any type of physical illness can affect mood, chronic illness is most likely to cause clinical depression. Examples of chronic illness include arthritis, cancer, colitis, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus and multiple...
Depression is not merely a state of mind--it is not an illness someone can snap out of when they choose. Its causes are complex, and often it is a combination of causes responsible for this disorder, according to Depression.com. While all causes...
Manic depression or bipolar illness is different from other depressive illnesses. Manic-depressive illness normally hits before the person reaches his mid thirties. Around 1 in 100 people experience bipolar illness at some point during the course...
Bipolar disorder is also sometimes called manic-depressive illness. People affected by this mental illness experience manic and depressive periods. During manic periods, or mania, they may experience very high levels of energy, giddiness or...
Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness can cause extreme mood swings. Approximately six-million adults in the United States are affected by this serious mental illness, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). The...
Treatment-resistant depression refers to depression symptoms persisting despite treatment. Emotional stress can contribute to treatment-resistant depression, according to MayoClinic.com. It may also be caused in part by not taking medications...
Bipolar disorder, also considered a manic-depressive illness, is characterized by massive mood swings from extreme "highs" to an overwhelming feeling of sadness and hopelessness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Lamictal is the brand name for a drug called lamotrigine, which belongs to the anticonvulsant drug class. Physicians prescribe Lamictal in oral pill form to help control seizures in patients with epilepsy. According to MayoClinic.com, Lamictal can...
Prominent depression symptoms seem most noticeable to someone with depression and those around him. However, they are not necessarily the "first" signs of depressive illness. Prominent symptoms are often what will first lead someone to identify...
Many people have troubled feelings following a bad experience that can affect their sleeping or eating patterns. But they usually return to normal after a while. People suffering from depression are often unable to rid themselves of the sad...
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, affects more than 10 million Americans according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood. The National Library of Medicine...
Eating foods such as doughnuts is considered to be a treat, and with good reason. Foods that are high in sugar and fat can create imbalances in the body that lead to obesity and disease. Protect your health by consuming such foods very...
Numerous factors affect your moods. Mood disorders, notes MerckManuals.com, are emotional disturbances that involve extended periods of sadness or anxiety and are classified as either depressive or bipolar. Sadness is a normal response to...
An estimated 2.3 million Americans live with an emotional illness called bipolar disorder, according to Mental Health America. Scientists searching for the cause of bipolar disorder have noticed that levels of glutamine -- a basic component of...
Modern research studies show that regular exercise can reduce depression symptoms. While exercise cannot replace psychotherapy and medication in every instance, it can be a valuable addition to your treatment options. You may be suffering from...
Fish oil may provide benefits for the depressive phases of bipolar disorder. Bipolar patients suffer from extreme mood swings, going from periods of deep depression to episodes of being overjoyed and overexcited. Bipolar disorder, also known as...
Sex hormones may play a role in the development of depression. Women have a higher risk of depression than men until they reach age 65, at which time sexual differences wane. Sex hormones may be responsible for the difference in susceptibility to...
Your mood can affect your outlook in life, which is why it is beneficial to understand how amino acids can lift your spirit the next time you are feeling blue. Mood disorders are types of mental health disorders that affect your emotional state...
According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), proper nutrition and avoiding excessive intake of alcohol, sugars, and caffeine can be critical to the prevention and regulation of depression. In fact, a 2008 study by Rao et al....
A balanced diet is essential for normal brain function. Bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a mental disorder characterized by mood changes that impair normal functioning. For those with bipolar disorder,...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder (manic-depression) is a recurring mental illness that causes those diagnosed to experience severe and extreme mood swings. This mood instability often interferes with everyday...
The stereotype of what it means to be bipolar--raging mood swings of uncontrollable mania alternating with weeks of immobilizing depression--represents just one type of bipolar disorder. The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and...
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme mood swings, cycling between major highs and depressive lows. The illness is genetic and usually inherited by a child from a parent. Bipolar patients can test simple holistic treatments...
Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression or manic depressive illness, is like living on a roller coaster. Mood swings are severe, going from extreme highs to depressive lows for weeks and even months on end. Bipolar disorder doesn't just...
Bipolar disorder, commonly referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes changes in energy level, mood, activity levels, and the ability to accomplish goals and tasks in a timely fashion. According to the National...
Cymbalta (Duloxetine hydrochloride) is generally classified as an anti-depressant medication, used in the treatment of major depressive illness. An estimated 20 million Americans are believed to be struggling with major depression, not the...
Lithium is an alkali metal in the same family as sodium and potassium. Lithium is prescribed to treat manic depressive illness and bipolar disorder. Various versions of prescription lithium are available, including lithium carbonate, lithium...
Lithium carbonate, more commonly just called lithium, is a medication used to treat bipolar disorder. The older term for bipolar disorder is manic-depressive illness. Lithium decreases both the frequency and the intensity of the manic phase of the...
Mania, depression, recklessness and listlessness are the extremes associated with bipolar disorder, a mental illness characterized by mood instability that can be serious and disabling. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depression or...
Depression is a very common medical illness that involves the mind and body. It affects how you think and behave and can cause a variety of emotional and physical problems. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of depression...
Fibromyalgia, FM, is a disorder of tactile allodynia and come-and-go pains, with symptoms varying greatly from day to day. Learn about fibromyalgia, including treatments and symptoms, in this health video.
