Depression: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Depression is, along with anxiety and substance use disorder, the most common mental illness, with a lifetime risk of 12 percent for men and 25 percent for women. It carries the highest disease burden of any illness in Australia. Yet many health professionals are uncertain how to assess and treat it. Moreover, the issue is complicated by the recent change to the DSM-5, which has different diagnostic categories than its predecessor, the DSM-IV-TR. In this course, you will learn the signs and symptoms of the different depressive disorders specified in the DSM-5. You will learn about four common instruments to assess for depression, and how to identify whether someone is at risk for suicide. You'll learn about the different treatment regimens used to treat for depression. and how to decide on the most appropriate one for a particular client. Bonus chapters feature a brief examination of prevention and handouts for both the depressed client and their family members.