alt.support.depression FAQ
Here you will find the FAQ from the alt.support.depression newsgroup. I have made no changes other than formatting. As you can see, the FAQ has not been updated since 1994, therefore some of the information, especially regarding antidepressants available, is somewhat out of date. However, this does not greatly diminish its usefulness.
Archive-name: alt-support-depression/faq/part1
Posting-Frequency: bi-weekly
Last-modified: 1994/08/07
alt.support.depression
FAQ
==========================
Introduction
------------
Alt.support.depression is a newsgroup for people who suffer from all forms
of depression as well as others who may want to learn more about these disorders.
Much the information shared in this newsgroup comes from posters' experience as
well as contributions by professionals in many fields. The thoughts expressed
here are for the benefit of the readers of this group. Please be considerate in
the way you use the information from this group, keeping in mind the stigma of
depression still experienced in society today.
The following Frequently-Asked-Questions
(FAQ) attempts to impart an understanding of depression including its causes;
its symptoms; its medication and treatments--including professional treatments
as well as things you can do to help yourself. In addition, information on where
to get help, books to read, a list of famous people who suffer from depression,
internet resources, instructions for posting anonymously, and a list of the many
contributors is included.
Updated and corrected versions will be posted
periodically. Please send suggestions to <cf12@cornell.edu>.
This
FAQ, and many other FAQ's, are available via anonymous ftp from <rtfm.mit.edu>.
To get the latest edition of this FAQ: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/alt-support-depression/faq/part1
The directory and file name is located in the "Archive-name:" line
in the header. A mail server also exists for accessing the FAQ archives. Send
a message to <mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu>, with the command "help"
in the body of your message.
Table of Contents
=================
Key:
- No change.
+ Added since last posting.
& Updated since
last posting.
Part 1 of 5
-----------
**Depression Primer**
**Types**
- What is depression?
- What is major depression?
- What is dysthymia?
- What is bipolar depression (manic-depressive illness)?
- What is Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD)?
- What is Post Partum Depression
- How
is bereavement different from depression?
- What is Endogenous Depression
- What is atypical depression?
**Symptoms**
- What are the
typical symptoms of depression?
- What are the diagnostic criteria for
depression?
**Causes**
- What causes depression?
Part 2 of 5
-----------
**Causes**
(cont.)
- What initiates the alteration in brain chemistry?
- Is
a tendency to depression inherited?
**Treatment**
- What sorts
of psychotherapy are effective for depression?
**Medication**
- Do certain drugs work best with certain depressive illnesses? What
are the guidelines for choosing a drug?
- How do you tell when a treatment
is not working? How do you know
when to switch treatments?
- How
do antidepressants relieve depression?
- Are Antidepressants just "happy
pills?"
- What percentage of depressed people will respond to antidepressants?
- What does it feel like to respond to an antidepressant? Will I feel euphoric
if my depression responds to an antidepressant?
- What are the major categories
of anti-depressants?
- What are the side-effects of some of the commonly
used antidepressants?
- What are some techniques that can be used by people
taking antidepressants to make side effects more tolerable?
- Many antidepressants
seem to have sexual side effects. Can anything be done about those side-effects?
- What should I do if my antidepressant does not work?
Part
3 of 5
-----------
**Medication** (cont.)
- If an antidepressant
has produced a partial response, but has not fully eliminated depression, what
can be done about it?
**Electroconvulsive Therapy**
- What is
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and when is it used?
- Exactly what happens
when someone gets ECT?
- How do individuals who have had ECT feel about
having had the treatments?
- How long do the beneficial effects of ECT
last?
- Is it true that ECT causes brain damage?
- Why is there
so much controversy about ECT?
**Substance Abuse**
- May I drink
alcohol while taking antidepressants?
- If I plan to drink alcohol while
on medication, what precautions should I take?
- What's the relationship
between depression and recovery from substance abuse?
- What does the term
"dual-diagnosis" mean?
- Is it safe for a person recovering from
substance abuse to take drugs?
- How do you know when depression is severe
enough that help should be sought?
**Getting Help**
-Where should
a person go for help?
-Where can I find help in the United Kingdom?
-Where can I find out about support groups for depression?
-How can
family and friends help the depressed person?
**Choosing A Doctor**
-What should you look for in a doctor? How can you tell if he/she really understands
depression?
**Self-care**
- How may I measure the effects my
treatment is having on my depression?
Part 4 of 5
-----------
**Self-care** (cont.)
- How can I help myself get
through depression on a day-to-day basis?
**Books**
- What are
some books about depression?
Part 5 of 5
-----------
**Famous People**
- Who are some famous people who suffer from depression
and bipolar disorder?
**Internet Resources**
- What are some
electronic resources on the internet related to depression?
**Anonymous
Posting**
- How can I post anonymously to alt.support.depression?
**Sources**
- Sources
**Contributors**
- Contributors
