Psychiatry Search
Psychiatry Psychiatry
depression
DEPRESSION

Depression is a mood disorder wherein the patient have a pervasive sad mood or loss of interest in most activities for at least 2 weeks.

It can cause significant distress & impairment. It is also a chronic, episodic and relapsing syndrome.

Treatment can either be by psychotherapy alone or pharmacotherapy alone or psychotherapy combined with pharmacological therapy.

Introduction

  • Patients may not present with depressive mood; somatic complaints may predominate
  • Depression should be suspected in patients who present with physical symptoms (eg fatigue, gastrointestinal distress or back pain) which cannot be explained or in those who present with pain, anxiety or substance abuse
  • Presence of depressed mood or diminished interest or pleasure in activities (anhedonia), feeling of fatigue or lack of energy (anergia), significant loss of motivation (avolition) are essential in diagnosing depression
  • Diagnosis may be easier in patients who are more aware of their moods or functioning
Digital Edition
Asia's trusted medical magazine for healthcare professionals. Get your MIMS Psychiatry - Malaysia digital copy today!
Sign In To Download
Editor's Recommendations
Most Read Articles
Prolonged oestrogen exposure in older women yields cognitive benefits
3 days ago
Older women with longer endogenous oestrogen exposure and hormone therapy use are at much higher odds of having favourable cognitive status in late life, a recent study suggests.
Omega-3, vitamin D no help for kidney function: Time to shift attention
Elvira Manzano, 2 days ago
Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D3 for up to 5 years has no effect on kidney function in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the VITAL-DKD* ancillary study has shown.
Poor sleep intensifies pain, fatigue among osteoarthritis patients
3 days ago
Better sleep appears to weaken pain and fatigue in older, community-dwelling adults with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA), reports a recent study.
Maribavir as good as valganciclovir for cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients
07 Nov 2019
Maribavir 400 mg twice daily appears to have comparable efficacy to valganciclovir at clearing cytomegalovirus viraemia in transplant recipients, a study has found.