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Depression Column

Depression Can Be Treated

   By Lori Whittaker, MD

Everybody feels sad sometimes. But if sad feelings do not go away, if they persist and interfere with your daily life, or if your sadness hopelessness feels overwhelming, you may be suffering from depression.  A growing number of people struggle with this.

Depression is a medical illness that involves the brain and affects more than 17 million Americans each year. According to the Institute of Integrated Benefits, depression is the top driver of health-care related workplace costs, in both medical claims and lost productivity.

Depression has many symptoms, which vary from person to person. Some of the more common symptoms include:

• Loss of interest in ordinary activities;
• Feeling down or hopeless;
• Changes in appetite;
• Changes in sleep patterns;
• Loss of energy;
• Feelings of worthlessness and/or guilt;
• Inability to concentrate;
• Moving or speaking slowly, or being excessively fidgety or restless; and
• In extreme cases, thoughts of suicide.

Depression is thought to be caused by chemicals in the brain called serotonin and norepinephrine. An imbalance in the levels of these chemicals can cause depression.

There are many ways to deal with depression.  The Puget Sound Health Alliance has gathered tools, information and resources about depression including a checklist to print out and take to your doctor, and a self assessment to help you determine if you need help for depression.  Just go to www.wacommunitycheckup.org and look under “Tools”.

All of us can do so much better when it comes to dealing depression.  Here are specific example from the Puget Sound Health Alliance’s Community Checkup report, which measures the performance of medical groups, hospitals and health plans across King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Kitsap counties:

• Patients diagnosed with depression are often prescribed anti-depressant medication, but too many patients do not stay on their medication long enough to properly treat their condition. 
• As many as one in two patients aren’t staying on their antidepressants for the recommended time. Although one can feel relief from depression within a couple of weeks after beginning to take medications, it can actually take as long as eight to twelve weeks for the medications to have an effect. Staying on medications for the recommended amount of time can prevent the depression from become chronic.

The Puget Sound Health Alliance urges health care professionals to learn from medical groups, hospitals and health plans that are getting the best results treating depression. 

Depression is an illness that can affect your mood, thoughts and body. It can affect how much you eat and sleep, and your ability to do your job. But it is treatable.  Getting the right health care and making changes in your daily life can help. A good place to start is www.wacommunitycheckup.org to learn more and find tools you can use.

Dr. Lori Whittaker is a practicing family physician who provides consultation to the Puget Sound Health Alliance.

For media inquiries, contact:

Diane Stollenwerk

Director of Communication and Development

(206) 448-2570 ext. 117