Depression -
(Continued from Page 3)
depression is a chronic, recurrent
disorder that may require long-term
treatment to prevent re-emergence of
depressive symptons. That's why it's
important for the patient to continue
following the doctor's instructions,
even after symptons disappear.
What are the warning signs that the
illness might be getting worse?
After treatment begins, it may be
several weeks before the patient starts to
feel better, although it's not unusual for
family or friends to notice improvement
sooner than the patient does. On the
other hand, it's important for the pa
tient to contact his or her physician if
the symptons of depression seem to be
getting worse, or come back after they
had resolved. While depression is
among the most successfully treated
mental disorders, it is a serious illness.
Fifteen percent of people with
depression commit suicide and about
half of all suicides are committed by
severely depressed individuals. If
someone you care about begins to talk
about suicide or death or shows other
signs of having these thoughts, tell his
or her doctor immediately.
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