Please Note: Information on these pages is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be taken as a substitute for care from a qualified healthcare provider, and cannot be used for the purpose of diagnosis.

Depression is one of the most common disturbances that people experience in life. Most people will have at least some symptoms of depression at some point - often in response to difficult life events. These do not necessarily constitute a diagnosable disorder, and in fact most often do not.

If depression is particularly severe, with many symptoms occurring at the same time for an extended period, the person may be experiencing Major Depressive Disorder, which some refer to as “Clinical Depression.” Most instances of low mood, however, do not reach the intensity or duration that this term connotes.

The dividing line is not a critical distinction for most psychological interventions for depressive symptoms. Many of the approaches used at Changeways Clinic are supported for both clinical and sub-clinical mood difficulties.

Symptoms of depression

Depression can involve a wide variety of symptoms. In the case of Major Depression, a person must have a specific number of symptoms of sufficient intensity and duration.

Common symptoms include:

• Severely down or depressed mood - sadness, despair, or an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

• Lack of interest or pleasure in almost all activities the person used to enjoy.

• Significant change in appetite (decrease or increase; or significant weight change that is not intended).

• Insomnia or excessive sleep.

• A persistent speeding up or slowing down of physical movement.

• Fatigue or loss of energy.

• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.

• Impaired concentration or decision-making ability.

• Recurrent thoughts of death (including thoughts of self-harm).

Again, any of these symptoms may occur to people at intervals throughout life without constituting a major depressive episode.

Sometimes the symptoms occur in response to specific external events, such as transitions between roles, losses, or health concerns. They may recur during specific seasons, as in Seasonal Affective Disorder. They may also occur as side effects to certain medications. These factors are important to assess, as they can guide the approach to treatment.

There is an enormous body of evidence on the treatment of depression supporting the effectiveness of psychological treatment - particularly cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and allied approaches. The specific aspects of treatment likely to prove helpful varies by person and circumstance, so a careful assessment by a qualified clinician is advisable.

At Changeways Clinic we see the full range of mood-related concerns.