For the past several years, he has worked extensively with Dr. Francine Shapiro, the originator of EMDR, and has trained therapists in EMDR and other methodologies in this country and abroad. Currently, he is an adjunct clinical supervisor of psychology at Yeshiva University, in New York, and an associate with Dr. Jeffrey Young at the Cognitive Therapy Center of New York. Psychiatrist Ethan Harris, MD Depression is a common illness that tends to be quite chronic. Of course, one can feel depressed because of acute changes in life, such as the loss of a loved one, work pressure or medical illness. Sometimes, however, depressive emotional patterns are deeper and recur over time.
Depression occurs most often in women and the elderly.
In the classical model, it takes place in episodes limited in time, but with a tendency to recur. There may be a pattern of mood swings and cycling, particularly in bipolar disorder, but if mood swings are always downward without clear evidence of mania, this diagnosis is not made. Many people show a long-term pattern of dysfunction, with variable but persistent symptoms of discontent, poor sleep, regression, withdrawal, lack of pleasure, low mood and even hopelessness or despair. Genetic factors predispose some individuals to chronic depression. Personality patterns also can lead to chronic intercurrent depression, due to poor social skills, lack of rewards in life, social isolation and obsessive-compulsive or avoidant character patterns.