What are the signs of depression?
Depression is as much a disease as diabetes or cancer. And while the terms sadness, stress and depression often used interchangeably, there’s a difference.
Sadness is something we all encounter periodically during our lives. It’s a normal reaction to loss, unhappiness or struggle. Stress is an emotion we experience in response to adverse or demanding circumstances.
Depression is more serious and long-lasting than sadness or stress. And it’s something people have no control over. A depressive episode is characterized by feeling sad and down most of the day, almost every day for a minimum of 12 to 15 days.
Depression symptoms can include:
- Persistent sad or anxious mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness or worthlessness
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
- Decreased energy
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Changes in sleep pattern, such as sleeping too much or experiencing insomnia
- Appetite or weight changes
- Pain, headaches or digestive problems without a clear cause
- Thoughts of suicide
It can be difficult to recognize depression in patients because some medical conditions or medications can cause some of these same physical symptoms. But it’s important to be aware of these signs of depression so you or your loved one can begin treatment as soon as possible.
Why some people develop depression in the hospital
Let’s say you’ve had diabetes for 10 to 15 years. The disease has progressed to end-stage renal disease, meaning your kidneys no longer function as they should. Your doctor recommends beginning dialysis, which can have a significant impact on your life. Initially, you may be shocked or saddened by the thought of being on dialysis. But over time, you may develop a major depressive disorder.
Unfortunately, this story is fairly common. Depression often accompanies illness. You may need to grieve a diagnosis or adjust your expectations for your future. It also can strain your relationships and finances. And depression won’t necessarily disappear after recovery, as you may continue to deal with lingering side effects or a fear of relapse.
The good news is that depression is treatable. But it’s not something you can do alone, so it’s important to get help.
How we treat patients experiencing depression in the hospital
Our consult-liaison team diagnoses and treats depressive disorders whether they are the primary reason for hospitalization or a co-existing condition. The first thing we try to do is connect with our hospitalized patient, so they feel comfortable talking with us, all while being considerate of the fact that they’re very sick.
As with anything in medicine, the first step is to identify what is wrong. Many patients are not even aware of their depression because they’re more concerned with the pressing medical emergency. But when we start talking to them, they begin telling us not just about what’s happening to them in that moment, but also about past life events that may be impacting what’s going on.
In diagnosing depression, we’ll also talk to the patient and their doctors about conditions or medications that may be causing the depression. For example, depression may be a side effect of some steroids or medications to treat high blood pressure, and some thyroid conditions can cause depressive symptoms.
Depression often is treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy, also known as therapy or counseling.
By starting a patient on an antidepressant while they’re in the hospital, we can monitor them closely for their response to it. We’ll work with their doctor to find an antidepressant that won’t aggravate the patient’s medical condition or interact with other drugs they’re taking.
Psychotherapy works to help you learn constructive ways to deal with problems or issues in your life. You can learn to recognize when your medical condition or other external factors can impact your mood and develop coping skills around it.
Some patients tell me they’re not interested in psychotherapy because they’ve tried it before and it didn’t work. I’ll often respond that I understand, but ask them to consider it with a more focused approach. Perhaps they take three things they’ve identified as needing to be addressed and deal with just those in therapy.
There also are a few other lifestyle changes and interventions that may help patients deal with depression, including:
- Taking part in regular exercise
- Spending time with family and friends
- Getting enough sleep
- Keeping a journal
- Setting realistic goals and not expecting your mood to improve overnight
When a patient is about to be discharged with the hospital, we want to make sure they’re linked to the services they’ll need. This could be an outpatient behavioral health program, support group or perhaps even a workshop designed to help adults living with chronic conditions take charge of their health — physical and emotional.
How to help a loved one with depression
Often, it’s not the patient who first recognizes a depressive disorder, it’s those around them. Identifying symptoms of depression early can lead to your loved one receiving treatment before the disease progresses to a point where they may harm themselves. For example, you may notice a change in personality, that they’re becoming withdrawn or isolating themselves. Or maybe they’re not eating or sleeping as well as they used to.
While we respect patient’s privacy, we always encourage them to include family or friends in their medical care. That way the patient has support in managing their treatment plan and taking care of themselves.
There’s always an opportunity to include family in treatment. For example, if a patient has significant developmental or childhood issues in their background, family members may be integral in treatment. Marital counseling or family therapy may be encouraged in some cases.
Finally, hospital patients often are pressured to “keep a positive outlook.” While we want to foster hope, it’s important to allow your loved one a safe space to discuss their fears and anxieties. Be supportive, but not demeaning or condescending.
Illness, especially when it’s serious enough to require hospitalization, can cause distress. But you’re not alone. If you or a loved one is experiencing signs of depression, request an appointment or call 703-552-4036.
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