Depression Purdue University Calumet Counseling Center Gyte Counseling Center Webpage

What are the symptoms?  Depressed mood (feeling sad or empty) most of the day, nearly every day  Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed  Significant weight loss or weight gain (change of more than 5% body weight in a month)  Insomnia (trouble sleeping) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)

Symptoms  Psychomotor agitation (physical and emotional responses sped up) or retardation (physical and emotional responses slowed down)  Fatigue or loss of energy  Feeling worthless or excessive/inappropriate guilt  Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness  Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or having a plan for suicide.

Others may notice depression if you: Consistently making negative statements about themselves -Withdrawing from social involvement -Increasing in irritability or angry outbursts -Losing interest in sexual activity -Begin complaining of frequent headaches, stomachaches, or muscle pain

Who does it affect?  Over 50% of university students report feeling depressed at some point since their freshman year of college  15% of college students meet the criteria for clinical depression  Women are twice as likely to experience depression as men (though this may be related to gender differences in the way sadness is expressed)

Related Symptoms  Anxiety  Substance abuse

Common Myths  Depression is not a real medical problem. -Extensive research has indicated genuine biological and genetic factors that contribute to the development of depression, not just psychological factors.  Depression can be changed by “positive thinking” if a person is strong enough. -Depression is not something people can “snap out of” with positive thinking, as research shows that it can change brain structure and alter thoughts and perceptions.

Common Myths cont.  Depression will go away on its own. -Without treatment, depression can last for months, years, or worse: it can result in suicide, the 3 rd leading cause of death for Americans between  Depression only results from traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one. - Sometimes, painful events in life can bring about a depressive episode, but for many people it occurs when everything in life seems to be going smoothly.

How can you know?  Periods of sadness are normal throughout your life, so to help determine the difference:  Depression Screening website: Completely anonymous and confidential Depression Screening website  Does not provide a clinical diagnosis, but can give you some idea of whether you (or someone you care about) should seek professional help

What makes depression worse?  Ignoring the problem, denying the problem, or waiting for it to go away  Alcohol  Drugs  Social isolation from friends and family  Poor diet  Poor sleeping habits/schedule

What can you do?  Accept that the problem exists  Stay active  Limit alcohol consumption  Increase social activity  Eat a balanced diet, and don’t skip meals

Help is Available:  Seek professional help.  Contact PUC Counseling Center at or come to the office at Gyte 05  Contact PUC Student Health Service Center at or come to the office at Gyte Annex 34

References  American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., Text Revision). Washington, DC: Author.  Fava M, Cassano P. Mood disorders: Major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusette General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 29.  Kessler, R. C., McGonagle, K. A., Zhao, S., Nelson, C. B., Hughes, M., Eshleman, 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 the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 51, 8-19

References (continued)  Furr, Susan R.; Westefeld, John S.; McConnell, Gaye N.; Jenkins, J. Marshall (2001). Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 32,  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)  Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Larson, J., & Grayson, C. (1999). Explaining the gender difference in depressive symptoms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77,