Private Depression Treatment in the UK
Frequently Asked Questions about Depression
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What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable (anhedonia).
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What are the symptoms of depression?
The symptoms of depression can include feelings of sadness or emptiness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
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How is depression diagnosed?
Depression is typically diagnosed through a combination of clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires, and behavioural assessments.
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What are the treatment options for depression?
The treatment options for depression can include therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT) and Human Givens (HG) therapy are common types of therapy used to treat depression.
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Can depression be prevented?
There is no surefire way to prevent depression, but there are strategies that can help reduce the risk of developing depression. These include stress management techniques, regular exercise, and a healthy balanced diet.
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Depression
Anyone can get down from time to time with the usual ups and downs of life. However, if this becomes a persistent problem every day for two weeks or more then this may be a warning of clinical depression.
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Depression is not a sign of weakness. It can happen to the most determined of people. Many famous people, athletes, and celebrities have experienced depression.
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Depression is the most common mental illness affecting millions of people globally. It may be caused by genetic factors, childhood trauma, stressful life events or changes, bereavement or loss, alcohol or drug use, or physical health problems.
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Symptoms of depression can be physical, psychological, and social. Hence, its effective and timely treatment needs to address all of these symptoms.
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Depression Facts
Depression can be mild, moderate, or severe depending on how many symptoms are present and how seriously it is impacting daily life.
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About 6% of the population meets the clinical criteria for depression or dysthymia (low-grade depression for more than 2 years) at any one time.
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Overall prevalence appears to be rising with a lifetime prevalence of 10-20%.
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At least 50% will also have anxiety problems.​
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Depression increases death from natural causes by 1.7 times, and from suicide by 19.7 times.
Alcohol and illicit substance misuse, e.g. cocaine, and heroin, can cause and worsen depression.
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Safe and Effective Depression Treatment
For people suffering from moderate or severe depression, NICE recommends a combination of antidepressant medication and a high-intensity psychological intervention for effective treatment, long-term recovery, and relapse prevention.
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Many of our patients have successfully recovered from depression after having psychotherapy such as CBT or Human Givens Therapy, social therapy, and antidepressant medication in moderate to severe cases. Without regular medication for 6 months in moderate or severe depression, 50% of patients will have a further episode within 2 years.
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Chisholm, D, Diehr, P, Knapp, M, Patrick, D, Treglia, M & Simon, G (2003). Depression status, medical comorbidity and resource costs. Longitudinal Investigation of Depression Outcomes (LIDO) study in primary care. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 183: 121-131.
Fombonne, E (1994). Increased rates of depression: update of epidemiological findings and analytical problems. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 90(3): 145-156.
Gelder, Harrison & Cowen (2006). Shorter Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, 5th edition, Oxford University Press.Gelder, Lopez-Ibor & Andreasen (2000). New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, 1st edition, Oxford University Press.Keller, M B, Lavori P W, Mueller T I, Endicott J, Coryell W, Hirschfield R M A & Shea T (1992). Time to recovery, chronicity, and levels of psychopathology in major depression: a 5-year prospective follow-up of 431 subjects. Arch Gen Psychiatry,49(10): 809-816.
Kessler, R C, McGonagle, K A, Zhao S, Nelson, C B, Hughes, M, Eshkeman, S, Wittchen, H-U & Kendler, K S (1994). Lifetime and 12-month Prevalence of DSM-III-R Psychiatric Disorders in the United States Results from National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 51(1): 8-19.