Major Depression is a prolonged, deep sensation of sadness
or feeling "down", blue, hopeless, helpless or
worthless.
The
following are common symptoms associated with depression:
-
Feelings of sadness, loneliness, hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Changes in sleeping pattern
- Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering things or making
decisions
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Restlessness or sluggishness
- Thoughts of death or suicide
About
one in six Americans experience an episode of depression
at some time during his/her adult life. (Approximately 1
in 6 of these will commit suicide in the course of his/her
illness.)
Often,
but not always, depression runs in families, and the course
it takes is quite variable. Some people may only experience
one significant depressive episode in their entire life,
while others suffer with chronic depression which requires
lifetime treatment.
Currently
approved treatments may have side effects which some people
cannot tolerate, may take 3 to 6 weeks to work, and may
not work at all in one-third of patients treated.
Consequently,
in collaboration with major pharmaceutical companies, Quantum
Laboratories conducts monitored clinical testing on newer
agents which offer the hope of minimizing these shortcomings.
