Depression

What is depression?

Depressive disorders are typified by sadness or irritable mood, feelings of emptiness, negative thought patterns, and somatic complaints (e.g. fatigue, changes in appetite or weight, etc.) that persist for a significant period of time. There are several different presentations of depressive disorder, determined by the course of your particular set of symptoms. Examples from the depressive spectrum of disorders include Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder I and II. Receiving an accurate diagnosis is important for ensuring appropriate treatment that alleviates, and does not exacerbate, your symptoms.

What are the signs of depression?

Some signs of depression include, but are not limited to:

• Low mood nearly all day and on more days than not,
• Decreased interest in activities that were previously enjoyable,
• Difficulty sleeping, reduced energy, or fatigue,
• Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness, and
• Changes in appetite or unintended changes in weight.

Depression can lead to an artificial reduction in your daily cognitive functioning. In other words, even if your brain is capable of functioning without difficulty when you are feeling well, depression can interfere with its ability to think quickly and clearly when you are feeling low. People who are depressed may notice the following changes in their thinking abilities:

• Difficulty learning new information,
• Attention-related problems,
• Decreased motivation, and
• Slowed processing speed.

What is the treatment for depression?

Whether or not depression is determined to be the primary cause of your cognitive dysfunction, our neuropsychologists will offer recommendations that can help you lessen the impact of depression on your cognitive functioning.

Thomson’s cognitive rehabilitation therapists can help you learn organizational skills and memory strategies which can help you continue working towards your goals academically, socially, or vocationally, and reduce the chances of an exacerbation of your depressive symptoms. Thomson therapists can work with you, using evidence-based techniques, to address the impact of depression on your interpersonal relationships and your day to day functioning. We will always encourage you to consult with your physician to determine whether a pharmaceutical intervention would be appropriate for your individual case.