Depression: A typical case of depressive disorder, characterized by significant and persistent low mood, diminished interest, etc. It is the most common mental disorder, with a high clinical cure rate; suicide is one of the most severe consequences for patients with depression.
Depression is a mental disorder with a high prevalence and clinical cure rate, but due to insufficient public awareness of the disease, there are relatively few patients who adhere to formal treatment, resulting in low treatment rates and high relapse rates.
It is mainly characterized by significant and persistent low mood, with some patients exhibiting self-harm or suicidal behavior, and can be accompanied by psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. In severe cases, it may lead to depressive stupor, manifesting as fixed facial expressions, lack of response to stimuli, speaking less or not at all, and limited movement or immobility.
Chengdu Hanfang Health Tips: When depression attacks, it generally presents as low mood, diminished interest, and lack of energy.
The disease currently lacks clear triggering factors; however, stress-related life events, pessimistic personality traits, history of other mental illnesses, severe chronic diseases, alcoholism, and substance abuse are closely linked to the onset of depression.
The manifestations of depressive episodes can be divided into three aspects: core symptom cluster, psychological symptom cluster, and physical symptom cluster.
Historically, the symptoms of depressive episodes have often been summarized as the “three lows”: low mood, slowed thinking, and reduced willpower. These three symptoms are considered typical of severe depression, but they may not appear in all patients.
When individuals feel a long-term low mood, inability to gather interest in anything, or declining interest, even accompanied by slow reactions, slowed thinking, and memory decline—symptoms suggestive of depression—they should seek medical assistance promptly. Additionally, family members or friends noticing such behaviors in their loved ones should actively encourage them to seek medical help.
For patients already diagnosed with depression, it is essential to strictly follow medical advice for treatment and maintain regular check-ups. Even if the condition has been effectively managed through treatment, if significant life changes occur or signs of a depressive episode arise, they should seek medical help promptly.
Experts from Hanfang analyze: Treating depression not only alleviates the suffering of patients but also reduces the burden on families and society once patients can reintegrate into society. Treatment for depression primarily includes medication, psychological therapy, and physical therapy.
Antidepressant medication has a therapeutic effect on depressive moods as well as accompanying anxiety, tension, and physical symptoms, with an effective rate reaching 60% to 70%. Therefore, actively cooperating with doctors in treatment and strictly adhering to prescribed medication can lead to symptom relief for most patients, enabling them to return to their pre-illness state.
Depression is characterized by a tendency to relapse; thus, patients and their families should always pay attention to changes in condition, follow medical advice for regular check-ups, and seek immediate medical attention if relapse symptoms appear.
Hou Zhong, Deputy Chief Physician, fifth-generation practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, member of the Chinese Association for the Promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine, expert at the Sichuan Institute of Modern Difficult Diseases, member of the Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association’s Traditional Medicine Section, special expert at Chengdu Hanfang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.
Graduated from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, engaged in clinical work in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 30 years. Through years of clinical practice, he has accumulated rich diagnostic and treatment experience, summarizing various diagnostic methods such as Eight Principles, Zang-Fu organs, Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids, and Meridians, effectively identifying the essence and key points of diseases. He has published over ten papers, with several included in major works published by national official publishers.
Skilled in the treatment of various tumors and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases with Traditional Chinese Medicine, continuously breaking through bottlenecks in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment. He implements stage-specific and method-specific treatments based on disease types, achieving significant results in the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as tumors.
