Dealing With Depression (NAPSA)—There could be good news for many of the 19 million Americans who suffer from depression each year. With proper treatment, patients can return to living a full and productivelife. “Depression is not a personality flaw, it is a serious medicalillness that must be recognized and treated,” said Dr. Andrew Farah, medical director and chief of psychiatry at High Point Regional Health System in North Carolina. Since depression is often misunderstood, being able to recognize symptomsis an essential first step to treating it. These symptomsinclude: * Depressed or irritable mood most of the day—nearly every day * Loss of interest or pleasure in activities (such as hobbies, work, sex or being with friends) most of the day—nearly every day * Asudden change in weight or appetite * Inability to sleep or sleeping too much * Agitation or restlessness * Constant fatigue or loss of energy * Frequent feelings of worthlessness or guilt * Difficulty concentrating or makingdecisions * Frequent thoughts of death or suicide Depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. There are a number of highly effective treatment options available to restore the balance of the chemical serotonin in the = me’ Mental illness affects than 54 million people a Fortunately, 80 percent of who seek treatment will improvement in symptoms. more year. those show brain, which is primarily responsible for mood. The most commonarea class of treatments called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. One new SSRI, Lexapro, has been shownto be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for depression that may also improve anxiety symptomsassociated with depression. “Studies show that treatment with Lexapro can bring improvement in depression symptoms with fewer side effects and faster onset of action than other antidepressants, which is important in helping patients continue treatment,” Dr. Farah adds. If you or a loved one experience symptoms of depression, see a doctor. You can find more information and take a simple self-screening test at www.lexapro.com.
