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Depression Health Center

Depressed?
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Depression Overview

Everyone has felt depressed. Yet the sadness and other symptoms of depression that are intense and last for long periods of time, can signal clinical depression or major depression, a serious medical illness that needs professional care.

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Do Antidepressants in Pregnancy Affect Baby?

Babies born to women who take antidepressants during pregnancy may experience small delays in reaching certain developmental milestones, but it is not clear if these delays are clinically significant, a study shows.

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Understanding Depression - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

For major depression, you may experience five or more of the following for at least a two-week period:

  • Persistent sadness, pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness or hopelessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, including sex
  • Difficulty concentrating and complaints of poor memory
  • Worsening of co-existing chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes
  • Insomnia or oversleeping
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Fatigue, lack of energy
  • Anxiety, agitation, irritability
  • Thoughts of suicide or death
  • Slow speech; slow movements
  • Headache, stomachache, and digestive problems