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

Recognition and diagnosis

• Clip
• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 17 >> Finds it difficult to describe how he felt before his depression was diagnosed.

Current medication includes Seroxat, Zyperxa (olanzapine), Lamactil (lamatrigine). Is grappling with building friendships and what he wants to do in life. He has found one kinesiologist in particular to be very helpful.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 55-64 >> Interview 24 >> It took until she was 19 to be diagnosed with depression. Yet she has come to the conclusion that she was suffering from depression as a child.

Helpful approaches have included medication, self-help books and tapes, and personal development courses. Received long term therapy on the NHS. Recently discovered she had dyslexia, explaining many of her difficulties.

• 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 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 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> As a 14 year old her suicide attempt frightened her enough to visit her GP, who diagnosed depression.

With the help of a caring GP, her counsellor, private hospital treatment, Efexor (150mg/day) and self-help books, she was feeling better and is keen to continue her healing and help others. She has written a book: Saving Samantha: A Young Woman's Escape from Childhood Hell (isbn 1401910300) about her experiences.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 06 >> Believes she has had depression for many years but was able to normalise it, and only considered talking to her GP after she had become suicidal.

Has responded very well to Prozac (currently 20 mg) and cognitive behavioural therapy, and feels she should be on an antidepressant permanently to correct a chemical imbalance.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Explains how she presented to her GP with minor ailments, felt she was wasting his time, and was not given a clear explanation of her depression. (Pla

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.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 19 >> She had not known that her doctor had treated her for depression in the past, nor that anxiety was closely linked with depression.

Has managed to find joy in life through approaches including medication (currently venlafaxine 150mg & chlorpromazine 25mg), counselling, partner support, Christianity and voluntary work (which led to rewarding employment).

• 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.

• Condition
• Mental health >> Depression >> Depression

Publication date: October 2004                 Last updated: October 2010

Review date: October 2012

 

Depression is a common condition with a range of different symptoms and types. We interviewed 38 people about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

• 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.