Table of Contents:

• An Introduction to the Depression Series
• Types of Depression
• Symptoms of Depression and Mania
• Causes of Depression
• Depression in Women, Seniors and Children
• Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment
• How to Help Yourself if You are Depressed
• Where to Get Help
• Further Information

We recommend checking out additional online resources for depression that have been reviewed by Psych Central. Also, you may be interested in our thriving online support group for depression.

There are also a number of real-world organizations and resources available if you’re interested in further information about depression and depressive disorders. Most additional information is available both online or by calling the organization directly and asking it to be sent via regular postal mail. These organizations are very willing to help you confidentially learn more about depressive illness and to find help if need be. Please don’t hesitate to seek treatment for depression if you need to.

Write to:

National Institute of Mental Health
Information Resources and Inquiries Branch
6001 Executive Boulevard
Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663

Telephone: 1-301-443-4513
FAX: 1-301-443-4279
Depression brochures: 1-800-421-4211
TTY: 1-301-443-8431
FAX4U: 1-301-443-5158
e-mail: nimhinfo@nih.gov

Website: http://www.nimh.nih.gov

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
1-703-524-7600; 1-800-950-NAMI

Website: http://www.nami.org

National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association
730 N. Franklin, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60601
1-312- 642-0049; 1-800-826-3632
Website: http://www.ndmda.org

National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc.
P.O. Box 2257
New York, NY 10016
1-212-268-4260; 1-800-239-1265
Website: http://www.depression.org

Mental Health America
(formerly the National Mental Health Association)
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Telephone: 703-684-7722; 1-800-969-NMHA (6642)

Website: http://www.nmha.org

References

1. Frank E, Karp JF, and Rush AJ (1993). Efficacy of treatments for major depression.
   Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 29:457-75.
2. Lebowitz BD, Pearson JL, Schneider LS, Reynolds CF, Alexopoulos GS, Bruce
   MI, Conwell Y, Katz IR, Meyers BS, Morrison MF, Mossey J, Niederehe G, and Parmelee
   P (1997). Diagnosis and treatment of depression in late life: Consensus
   statement update. Journal of the American Medical Association, 278:1186-90.
3. Robins LN and Regier DA (Eds) (1990). Psychiatric Disorders in America,
   The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, New York: The Free Press.
4. Vitiello B and Jensen P (1997). Medication development and testing in children
   and adolescents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 54:871-6.

Dr. John Grohol is the founder & CEO of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.