Depression

Depression is a topic covered in the 5-Minute Emergency Consult.

To view the entire topic, please or .

Emergency Central is a collection of disease, drug, and test information including 5-Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, Davis’s Drug, McGraw-Hill Medical’s Diagnosaurus®, Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests, and MEDLINE Journals created for emergency medicine professionals. Explore these free sample topics:

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

Basics

Description

Major depression:
  • Depressed mood and associated signs and symptoms lasting more than 2 wk
  • Significant morbidity and mortality, including risk of suicide
  • Often coexists with other medical illness

Etiology

  • Biologic illness associated with derangements in several neurotransmitter systems including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
  • Contributing factors:
    • Genetic predisposition
    • Psychosocial stress: Depression may follow adverse life event, trauma, loss of important relationship, or life role
    • Medical illness
  • Higher prevalence in women

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or --

Basics

Description

Major depression:
  • Depressed mood and associated signs and symptoms lasting more than 2 wk
  • Significant morbidity and mortality, including risk of suicide
  • Often coexists with other medical illness

Etiology

  • Biologic illness associated with derangements in several neurotransmitter systems including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
  • Contributing factors:
    • Genetic predisposition
    • Psychosocial stress: Depression may follow adverse life event, trauma, loss of important relationship, or life role
    • Medical illness
  • Higher prevalence in women

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.