Internet Resources
Q. What are some electronic resources on the internet related to depression? This list is a shortened version of one compiled and maintained by Sylvia Caras. It is posted periodically to ThisIsCrazy-L (see below for …
Choosing a Doctor
Q. What should you look for in a doctor? How can you tell if he/she really understands depression? If you are looking for a psychopharmacologist to prescribe medications to help control your depression there are …
Getting Help
Q. Where should a person go for help? If you think you might need help, see your internist or general practitioner and explain your situation. Sometimes an actual physical illness can cause depression-like symptoms so …
Substance Abuse
Q. May I drink alcohol while taking antidepressants? There are a number of problems with the mixture of alcohol and antidepressants. First, antidepressants may make you especially susceptible to the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Second, …
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Q. What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and when is it used? ECT is an effective form of treatment for people with depressions and other mood disorders. ECT may be used when a severely depressed patient …
Prozac
Q. What about the rumors and studies that Prozac causes suicide and/or acts of violence? A link between Prozac and violence has not been proven. Prozac is an anti-depressant known to cause problems such as …
Medication
Q. Do certain drugs work best with certain depressive illnesses? What are the guidelines for choosing a drug? here are very few kinds of depression for which there are specific antidepressant treatments. When it comes …
Treatment: General Information
Q. What sorts of psychotherapy are effective for depression? Two effective methods of psychotherapy for people with depressions are cognitive therapy and interpersonal therapy. Both psychoanalysis and insight oriented psychotherapy have not been shown to …
Symptoms of Depression
What are the typical symptoms of depression? A depressive disorder is a “whole-body” illness, involving your body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and …
Resources
ABOUT DEPRESSIONTypes of DepressionSymptomsCauses TREATMENTGeneral Info Medication Prozac Electroconvulsive Therapy Substance Abuse GETTING HELP General Info Choosing a Doctor Self-Care ADDITIONAL RESOURCES National Institute of Mental HealthNational Alliance on Mental Illness