Depression is a common medical condition in which low mood or loss of interest lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and affects sleep, energy, thinking and the ability to function. It is not weakness or a failure of character.
It ranges from mild to severe and tends to recur. Most people recover with psychological therapy, medication or both, but improvement takes weeks and relies on continuity with a clinician who knows you. That continuity is the main reason depression is, in most cases, best treated close to home.
Symptome
- Persistent sadness, emptiness or irritability
- Loss of interest or pleasure in things once enjoyed
- Tiredness and low energy
- Sleeping too little or too much, often with early waking
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Poor concentration and indecision
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Moving or speaking slowly, or restlessness
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Ursachen und Risikofaktoren
There is no single cause. Inherited vulnerability, early adversity, long-term stress, bereavement, isolation, chronic pain and physical illness all contribute, and they act through changes in the brain's stress and mood-regulating systems. Depression is more common after childbirth, around the menopause, with heavy alcohol use, and with conditions such as hypothyroidism, stroke, Parkinson's disease, diabetes and heart disease. Some medicines, including steroids and interferon, can trigger it. A previous episode is the strongest predictor of another.
Wie es diagnostiziert wird
- Clinical interview: A psychiatrist or trained doctor asks about symptoms, their duration, past episodes, any periods of elevated mood, substance use and risk. There is no blood test or scan for depression.
- Rating scales: Questionnaires such as PHQ-9 measure severity and track change over time.
- Physical health checks: Thyroid function, blood count, vitamin B12, glucose and a medication review exclude contributing conditions.
- Screening for bipolar disorder: Essential before starting antidepressants, since treatment differs.
- Risk assessment: Direct questions about suicidal thoughts. Asking does not plant the idea.
Behandlungsmöglichkeiten
- Guided self-help, activity and exercise: Structured physical activity, sleep routine and reducing alcohol are effective for mild depression.
- Psychological therapy: Cognitive behavioural therapy, behavioural activation and interpersonal therapy, typically 8 to 16 weekly sessions. It can be delivered online in your own language.
- Antidepressant medication: SSRIs first. They take two to six weeks to work and are continued for at least six months after recovery, then tapered slowly.
- Combined treatment: Therapy plus medication for moderate to severe depression.
- Augmentation and switching: Changing drug class or adding lithium or an atypical antipsychotic when the first medicines fail.
- TMS and esketamine: For depression that has not responded to at least two adequate medication trials. TMS requires daily sessions for four to six weeks.
- Electroconvulsive therapy: The most effective treatment for severe, psychotic or life-threatening depression, given under a brief general anaesthetic.
Wenn es dringend ist
If you are thinking about ending your life, have made a plan, or feel unable to keep yourself safe, contact your local emergency number, a crisis line or the nearest emergency department now, and tell someone you trust. Not eating or drinking, hearing voices, or severe agitation also need urgent local psychiatric care. Do not travel in this state.
Reisen nach Türkiye zur Behandlung
Being honest: a trip abroad is seldom the right answer to depression. Treatment works through weekly contact over months, in a language you are fluent in, with your family and doctor nearby. Travel while acutely unwell adds isolation and risk. A visit can reasonably offer a second psychiatric opinion, a medication review, or a course of TMS for treatment-resistant depression if you can stay four to six weeks with a companion and have follow-up arranged at home. Online therapy may give access to a specialist without travelling at all.
Senden Sie Ihre Berichte, Scans und eine kurze Geschichte und eine Clinic-Y Koordinator Antworten innerhalb von 24 Stunden mit geeigneten Teams und schriftlich, All-inclusive Vorschläge nebeneinander. Die Überprüfung Ihres Falls ist kostenlos.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
How long until antidepressants work?
Some improvement usually appears in two to four weeks, with full effect by six to eight. Early side effects tend to settle.
Are antidepressants addictive?
They do not cause craving, but stopping abruptly can produce withdrawal symptoms, so doses are reduced gradually.
Is therapy as good as tablets?
For mild to moderate depression, yes. For severe depression, the combination works best.
Will I need treatment for life?
Most people do not. Long-term treatment is advised after several or severe episodes.