Depression

About 5% of adults worldwide experience depression, and more than 4% of American children struggle today with depression. At Insight Psychiatric Services, PA, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kevin Joseph, DNP, PMHNP-BC, offers compassionate in-office and telemedicine care for patients struggling with depression. A combination of time-limited psychotherapy and medication management provides excellent results for many patients, setting them free from depression’s restrictive symptoms and helping them transform their lives. Book your appointment online today or call the office for help.

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, and other harmful emotions make your daily life difficult and unhappy. Millions of adults, children, and teenagers suffer from depression today.

Although it can negatively affect your life if left untreated, effective treatments can help you beat depression and live your desired life.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Each of the many types of depression has specific symptoms. Some of the most common types of depression are:

Major depressive disorder (MDD)

Major depressive disorder, or clinical depression, is diagnosed when you have continuing sadness and other symptoms of depression, like disinterest in most activities, for at least two weeks. Usually, these symptoms prevent you from functioning normally (poor sleep, problems at work, changed eating habits, and other issues).

Persistent depressive disorder

Persistent depressive disorder, or dysthymia, features less-severe but longer-lasting symptoms of depression, like sadness and lack of interest in usual activities. Symptoms last for two years or longer. Dysthymia isn’t as severe as clinical depression, but it can still prevent you from living normally.

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is a depressive disorder affecting children and teenagers. It features angry outbursts, including verbal and physical aggression, far out of proportion to the situation that triggered them.

Other types of depression include seasonal affective disorder (SAD), perinatal depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

The symptoms of bipolar disorder, also a mood disorder, can closely mimic those of depressive disorders.

How is depression treated?

Your treatment depends on your specific depressive disorder, your symptoms, and how your depression affects your daily life. Dr. Joseph often recommends time-limited psychotherapy — intense talk therapy to explore your feelings, overcome negative thinking patterns, and learn healthy habits.

Many people with depression also need medication like antidepressants. Dr. Joseph prescribes the best medicines for you and follows your progress. He can change medication or drug dosages if needed (this is called medication management).

Your first appointment, an evaluation, lasts an hour, while medication management appointments are a half-hour long. In-office and telemedicine appointments are available, making getting excellent psychiatric care convenient.

If depression makes your everyday life hard, you deserve to feel better. Insight Psychiatric Services, PA, provides compassionate support to lead you out of depression. Call the office now or click the online scheduler for help.