In today's society, depression is referred to as the "common cold of the mental health problems." (Bourne and Russo 24). More than five percent of Americans have depression, which equates to an astonishing 15 million people. It is said that 1 out of every six people have had a major depressive episode in their life. It is estimated that it costs the nation a sum of 43 billion dollars a year in medication, lost school days, lost workdays, and professional care for depression. Tens of thousands of people out of the 15 million attempts to commit suicide because of depression and about 16,000 of those people succeed (Bourne and Russo 24).

Depression, loosely defined, is a disorder marked by a state of deep and pervasive

Hospitalization is usually relatively short, until the patient becomes fully stabilized and the therapeutic effects of an appropriate antidepressant medication can be realized usually 3 to 4 weeks. A partial hospitalization program should also be considered (Clarkin et al. 209). Depression is something that can be overcome with the help and support from family, extended family and friends. The likelihood of depression has skyrocketed over the years, so it is imperative that one should know the warning signs of depression. It takes self-help on the part of the person with depression and the caring of others for that person to reach out and acknowledge that he or she might have depression. With the support of family and friends, the person suffering with depression will be able to function wholly as a person again. They will finally be able to enjoy life again.

Schwartz, A., Schwartz, R. M. Depression: Theories and Treatments. New York: Columbia University Press (1993)

Strange, P. G. Brain Biochemistry and Brain Disorders. New York: Oxford University Press. (1992)

There are several major causes of depression that may occur in people. The first causes are the biological causes that are thought to be (1) heredity in which the individuals inherit directly as well as genetic transmission of vulnerability, and (2) physiological disturbances, which currently focus on the body's neurochemical, endocrine, and limbic systems. Psychological causes are thought to include (1) family origin, which focuses on the general area of personality and its development, and (2) social, influences, which covers such things as poverty, segregation, and sexism. Stress is another factor in depression. Stress can result from physical illness, the inability to cope with certain life events, such as separation and loss, and from significant changes, such as marriage, and childbirth (Schwartz and Schwartz .3).

Individuals who can approach a problem from a unique perspective and those who are more cognitively oriented are also likely to do better with this approach. The second is interpersonal therapy, which is another short-term therapy utilized in the treatment of depression. The focus of this treatment approach is usually on an individual's social relationships and specifically on how to improve them. It is thought that good, stable social support is imperative to a person's overall well being and health within this framework. When relationships falter, a person directly suffers from the negativity and unhealthiness of that relationship. Therapy seeks to improve a person's relationship skills, working on communication more effectively, expressing emotions appropriately, being properly assertive in social and occupational situations (Clarkin et al. 209). It is usually conducted, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, on an individual basis but can also be used within a group therapy framework.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Schwartz Schwartz, Baby Boom, Bourne Russo, Sadness Disease, Anxiety Patients, Baby Boomers, schwartz schwartz, University Press, bourne russo, cognitive-behavioral therapy, Company Inc, family friends, percent depressed, depressed persons, Brunner/Mazel Inc, clarkin et al, et al 209, russo 24, depressed person, depression schwartz, al 209, depression schwartz schwartz, bourne russo 24, baby boom generation,
Approximate Word count = 2091
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)