Depression

Symptoms and signs

The clinical manifestations of depressive disorder fall into several groups:
    1. Emotional. The patient loses interest in life, experiences depression, hopelessness, lack of energy, has a negative perception of any events, and suffers from insomnia. Suicidal ideation may be present.
    2. Thinking. Difficult to concentrate, pessimistic views of events, beliefs in one's own inferiority, and worthlessness are observed.
    3. Physiological. Activities that you used to enjoy no longer give you pleasure. There are pains in the body for no objective reason, stamina, libido, appetite decrease, fatigue increases.
    4. Behavioral. Depression is characterized by unreasonable emotional swings, the patient constantly desires solitude, renounces previous hobbies, experiences tension in the body, anxiety, bouts of tearfulness, sadness.

You should also make an appointment with a specialist if you have these symptoms:
    • negative emotions, sadness, bad moods for no apparent reason for 2 weeks or longer;
    • a steady loss of interest in work or activities that previously gave pleasure;
    • unreasonable attacks of fear, guilt;
    • sleep disorders, appetite;
    • a sharp decline in self-esteem;
    • obsessive thoughts, suicidal tendencies.

Diagnostic methods

At our clinic, patients undergo a comprehensive evaluation to rule out diseases with similar symptoms, as well as to identify possible structural changes that cause depressive disorder. Next, a psychological evaluation using various tests takes place.

Prevention

Development of stress-resistance skills, compliance with work and rest regimes, regular preventive examinations, and timely treatment of somatic diseases can help prevent the development of depression. It is also necessary to maintain an optimal level of physical activity, positive communication with loved ones, and practice of meditation and relaxation.