Depression Psychotherapy
"Depression" is a general term for a range of mental disorders that involve sad mood. These range in severity, as described below.
A brief and mild episode of significant sadness, along with changes in appetite, weight, and/or sleep, is usually diagnosed as Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood.
A chronic course of sad mood, along with disturbances in appetite, weight, and/or sleep, is usually diagnosed as Dysthymic Disorder.
A new or repeating episode of severely sad mood, impaired self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, and disturbance in appetite, weight, and/or sleep, is usually diagnosed as Major Depression.
In all cases, evaluation by a mental health professional is advisable. Brief or extended psychotherapy may be all that is required to resolved the difficulty. In many cases, antidepressant medication is also helpful. It is important to know that psychotherapy alone has been shown to be equally effective as medication in many forms of depression, and brings no unwanted side effects.
Please contact Dr. Chafetz with any questions you may have about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression.
A brief and mild episode of significant sadness, along with changes in appetite, weight, and/or sleep, is usually diagnosed as Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood.
A chronic course of sad mood, along with disturbances in appetite, weight, and/or sleep, is usually diagnosed as Dysthymic Disorder.
A new or repeating episode of severely sad mood, impaired self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, and disturbance in appetite, weight, and/or sleep, is usually diagnosed as Major Depression.
In all cases, evaluation by a mental health professional is advisable. Brief or extended psychotherapy may be all that is required to resolved the difficulty. In many cases, antidepressant medication is also helpful. It is important to know that psychotherapy alone has been shown to be equally effective as medication in many forms of depression, and brings no unwanted side effects.
Please contact Dr. Chafetz with any questions you may have about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression.