Depression
A potentially serious mental health condition that involves the body, mind and emotions, often characterized by a profound change in mood and/or a profound loss of interest in once-pleasurable things or activities.  Depression can affect the way you eat, sleep and function; how you feel about yourself and others; and what think about the world around you.

Bipolar disorder
Also known as manic depression.  Characterized by cyclical mood changes – extreme highs (mania) and extreme lows (depression) – with periods of normality in between.  When in the manic cycle, you can be overactive, talkative and have a great deal of energy.  When in the depressive cycle, you can exhibit any of the symptoms common to depression.

Unipolar disorder
A form of depression marked by symptoms from just one end of the spectrum – mania or depression.

Post-partum depression
A form of depression that can affect women soon after giving birth.  A new mother can become preoccupied with thoughts about significant life changes and burdens she faces with a new baby.  In the most serious cases, the mother might do harm to herself or the child.

Personality dysfunction
Associated with more severe cases.  Depression can trigger sometimes dramatic changes in personality – from happy-go-lucky to deep sadness, from calm and reserved to talkative and agitated, from rational to irrational.  The people in your circle of influence might say they "don't know you anymore."

Psychotherapies
Also referred to as the "talking" therapies.  The goal is to help patients "talk through" their illness and their circumstances, overcoming unwarranted fears, feelings of anxiety or inadequacy and the like.  Patients also can be "trained" in certain life skills that help them recognize, address and overcome aspects of their depression and lead more well-adjusted lives.

Cognitive behavioral therapy  (CBT)
A type of psychotherapy that emphasizes behavior modification to minimize depressive episodes and help the patient develop "coping" techniques.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Statistically the most effective treatment for depression.  Produces a seizure in the brain of the patient (who is under general anesthesia) by applying electrical stimulation via electrodes placed on the scalp.  Repeated treatments are necessary to achieve the most complete desired response.  Memory loss and other cognitive problems are common yet typically short-lived side effects.

Anti-depressants
Medicines developed to treat depression.  They are prescribed based on the particular diagnosis of a patient and administered under appropriate risk management models.  In some cases, such as, depression caused by a neurochemical imbalance – anti-depressants might be essential for a favorable outcome.  Usually, treatment must continue for several weeks before full therapeutic effect can be measured.

Neurochemical disorder
An identifiable and measurable chemical imbalance in the brain, which causes depression.  Neurochemical disorders tend to be responsible for most severe cases of depression, usually marked by major changes in personality, detachment from reality and similar symptoms.  A neurochemical imbalance might be suspected when the person's circumstances don't seem to warrant depression – in general their life seems "good".

Mood disorders
Used to describe the wide variety of depressive states possible because of the numerous possible symptoms and combinations of symptoms that a patient might exhibit as someone suffering from depression or anxiety.