There are several forms of depression. Major depression is marked by persistent sadness or anxiety, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities, fatigue or decreased energy, problems with concentration and memory, sleep difficulties, restlessness, irritability, changes in appetite or weight, complaints of physical symptoms that don't go away and thoughts of death or suicide.

Dysthymia is a less severe form of depression. The symptoms are usually chronic, but do not cause serious impairment in life activities.

A third common form of depression is bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression). Patients with bipolar disorder experience symptoms of cyclic mood changes between depression and mania. Symptoms of mania include excessive "joy" or elation, irritability, increased talking, racing or grandiose thoughts and ideas, excessive energy levels, decreased need for sleep, poor judgement and inappropriate social behavior.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects 18.8 million Americans. Women are affected about twice as often as men. Hormonal changes, like those accompanying the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause, may be responsible for the increased rate of depression among women.

Treating Depression There are many different types of treatment for depressive illnesses. Doctors may use one or more therapies. Several medications can be used to treat symptoms of depression. However, patients respond differently to the drugs. A medication that works well for one patient may not be helpful for another. Doctors may need to try several different medications until they find one that works well for the patient. Medications can also have side effects, so doctors try to use the lowest doses possible.

Psychotherapy helps patients understand the causes of their problems and find ways to "work through" the issues. In cognitive behavioral therapy, patients learn concrete methods to change negative thoughts and actions.

Studying the Genetic Link Depression appears to run in some families. Research shows first-degree relatives (child, sibling or parent) of a patient with depression have a 3-fold increased risk of also developing some type of depressive disorder. Risk is higher in families with a patient who develops signs at a young age and experiences multiple episodes of the disorder.

Since family history is a strong risk factor for depression, researchers want to find out if a specific gene or group of genes may be responsible for the condition. If so, determining the genetic cause may lead to better treatments for depression. One way to study the genetics of depression is to study siblings who have both been diagnosed with the condition. Children of the same parents will share about 50 percent of their corresponding genes. Thus, there is an increased chance researchers can find similar genetic markers associated with depression.

In the first step of the research study, investigators are taking blood samples and extracting the DNA. Then, laboratory investigators will look for commonly shared chromosomes. Once potential chromosomes are identified, specialized genetic mapping techniques will be used to find the potential genes. It will be a few more years until researchers have finished their studies and analyzed the results. For information about the study, call 888-292-1210, or visit the study website at http://zork.wustl.edu/depression.

For information about the study, call 888-292-1210, or visit the study website at http://zork.wustl.edu/depression.

For information on depression:
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, http://www.dbsalliance.org
National Institute of Mental Health, http://www.nimh.nih.gov
National Mental Health Association, http://www.nmha.org