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• Mental health >> Depression >> Recognition and diagnosis >> Recognition and diagnosis

Recognition and diagnosis

• Clip
• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 36 >> He had trouble expressing how he felt and he and others tended to explain his depression in other ways e.g. tiredness. (Played by an actor)

Useful approaches include medication, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, therapy, hospitalisation, self-help groups. Currently takes Lithium (600mg/day) and citalopram (Cipramil) 20mg/day.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 02 >> As a teenager she did not understand she had depression, and felt her doctor should have found out if she had depression.

Effective approaches include medication (currently Efexor 75 mg/day), hypnotherapy and counselling. Was finding it difficult to find therapy in the NHS.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 55-64 >> Interview 12 >> Says that had the seriousness of her depression been recognised earlier, and she had had support, it would have made a difference to her life.

Helpful approaches include support from patients in hospital, counselling and medication (Lofepramine). She understands depression as a passing phase and feels she is well past the worst of it.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 07 >> It took him about 6 months to accept that he had depression and to be able to tell his GP about it.

Used a raft of strategies to recover including time off work, attending a support group, counselling, physical exercise, interaction with nature and pets, and spiritual healing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Her GP knew he did not have the skills to manage her and referred her to a psychiatric team. They understood and could help.

Is now managed by a skilled team in the NHS, which includes long-term therapy. Therapy is addressing her distorted thinking patterns and difficult past. She now understands she can move beyond depression.