14 - Depression—Applied Aspects

Abstract

This chapter describes the various types of depression, discusses the prevalence of the more common types studied, and presents prevention, treatment, and maintenance interventions currently suggested for persons with depression. Depressed mood-states usually involve the emotion of sadness, a subjective lack of energy, reduced motivation to engage in formerly pleasant activities, reduced desire to have positive interactions with other people, and a belief that one's lot in life is difficult. Normal states of depressed mood last hours or days. Once they become more chronic and start affecting one's ability to function, they are often conceptualized as part of a pathological process, which can ultimately meet criteria for a diagnosis of a clinical depressive disorder. Mental health interventions that focus on this disorder include preventive, treatment, and maintenance interventions, of which treatment is the most developed and the most available. Treatment interventions are divided into two sublevels: case identification, to provide early treatment for cases of major depression that have not been identified previously, and standard treatment, which accounts for the bulk of mental health intervention efforts.