Frequently asked questions about clinical depression
What is clinical depression?
We can all feel low occasionally requiring time to bounce back from the setbacks of everyday life. However clinical depression is very different. It is a serious illness with debilitating consequences for a person’s physical, emotional and everyday life. Depression is often experienced with:
- other mental illnesses such as an anxiety disorder, eating disorder or psychosis
- acute physical condition or illness such as cancer, diabetes or obesity and
- frequently with drug and alcohol use.
Can depression be genetic?
The chance of developing depression is increased if there is a genetic predisposition. However, if you don’t have depression in your family it doesn’t mean that it won’t develop.
Is depression life-threatening?
The mental distress caused by depression can be a risk factor for suicide. Depression can distort rational thoughts and behaviour, so that death seems like the only option. If you or your loved one feels disabled by depression, it’s important to open the door to discussion and to ask for professional help. Although it is not an easy subject to discuss, don’t be afraid to talk about suicidal thoughts.
Is psychosis a risk with depression?
When depression is severe, hallucinations can occur. As the depression is being treated the psychotic symptoms disappear.
Is there a cure for depression?
Depression can be treated, providing recovery from the illness. Depression is caused by a number of factors interacting together, including genetics, personality and life events. Successful treatment needs to be holistic, taking into account all of these factors to bring about recovery. Depression can recur if the stress factors recur. However, research shows that cognitive behavioural therapy successfully reduces the recurrence of depression, providing skills that can be practised and used in daily life.
Treatment program for clinical depression
Wesley Hospital Ashfield and Wesley Hospital Kogarah’s treatment programs for depression combine medication and cognitive behavioural therapy, which has been shown to be effective in treating depression. Our treatment programs focus on building symptom management skills and self-esteem, and include:
- in-patient therapy – providing collaborative treatment sessions to help manage symptoms and identify negative thought processes and aspects of life through cognitive behavioural therapy
- day patient program – our day patient programs for the treatment of depression also use cognitive behavioural therapy. Our qualified psychologists work with you to develop life skills enabling:
- symptoms of depression to be monitored and
- the behavioural or thought patterns contributing to depression to be identified.
We work with you to develop skills to cope more effectively with stress, and aim to increase family support and to build support networks.
In order to be most effective and enable people to lead productive lives, treatment for depression needs to take into account all aspects of life. We help you to understand depression and regain control over thoughts and feelings. We also help develop an understanding of the triggers of depression, and teach strategies to reduce the distress of depression.
