About Depression
Depression is a serious medical illness affecting more than 14 million
American adults every year1. Often a
debilitating disorder, depression results in a persistent state of sadness or
loss of interest or pleasure which interferes with an individual's thoughts,
behavior, mood, and physical health. Learn more about depression symptoms.
In 2000, the economic burden of depression was estimated at $83.1 billion in
the US2 and researchers estimate that by the
year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability
worldwide.3
Depression can be a lethal disease. In fact, each year in the US, over
30,000 people die by suicide, 60% of whom suffer from depression.4 Overall, women are almost twice as likely as men to
suffer from depression; however, some experts feel that depression in men is
under-reported.5 Depression has no racial,
ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries. About two-thirds of those who experience an
episode of depression will have at least one other episode in their lives.
While the exact cause of depression is not known, the leading scientific
theory is that depression is caused by decreased activity in the neural networks
of the brain that regulate emotion and motivation. Increasing levels of
neurotransmitters in the brain has been found to reactivate these neural
networks, or create new networks. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that
send signals between brain cells. Depression is most often treated with
antidepressant medications. It is believed that antidepressant medications work
by increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters. TMS offers additional
treatment options for people struggling with depression despite traditional
medication therapy. Learn about depression treatment options.
More than 4 million patients do not receive adequate benefit from
antidepressants and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them. For
these patients, they need a new way back.
References:
American adults every year1. Often a
debilitating disorder, depression results in a persistent state of sadness or
loss of interest or pleasure which interferes with an individual's thoughts,
behavior, mood, and physical health. Learn more about depression symptoms.
In 2000, the economic burden of depression was estimated at $83.1 billion in
the US2 and researchers estimate that by the
year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability
worldwide.3
Depression can be a lethal disease. In fact, each year in the US, over
30,000 people die by suicide, 60% of whom suffer from depression.4 Overall, women are almost twice as likely as men to
suffer from depression; however, some experts feel that depression in men is
under-reported.5 Depression has no racial,
ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries. About two-thirds of those who experience an
episode of depression will have at least one other episode in their lives.
While the exact cause of depression is not known, the leading scientific
theory is that depression is caused by decreased activity in the neural networks
of the brain that regulate emotion and motivation. Increasing levels of
neurotransmitters in the brain has been found to reactivate these neural
networks, or create new networks. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that
send signals between brain cells. Depression is most often treated with
antidepressant medications. It is believed that antidepressant medications work
by increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters. TMS offers additional
treatment options for people struggling with depression despite traditional
medication therapy. Learn about depression treatment options.
More than 4 million patients do not receive adequate benefit from
antidepressants and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them. For
these patients, they need a new way back.
References:
- Kessler, RC, et al. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month
DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R).
Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun: 62 (6):617-27. - Greenberg, PE, et al. The economic burden of depressive disorders in the
United States: How did it change between 1990 and 2000? Journal of Clinical
Psychiatry. 2003; 64 (12): 1465-1475. - Murray CJ, Lopez AD. Evidence-based health policy - lessons from the Global
Burden of Disease Study. Science. 1996; 274 (5288): 740-743. - Heron, Melonie, et al. Deaths: Final Data for 2006. National Vital
Statistics Reports, 57 (14). April 17, 2009. - Kessler, RC, et al. The epidemiology of major depressive disorder; results
from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). JAMA. 2003; 289(23):
3095-3105.