As human beings, we all feel sad or blue once in a while. This is a normal response to bad news, unhappy events, or loss. But depression is different from sadness. It is a serious mood disorder that causes deep, long-lasting feelings of profound melancholy that severely interfere with the quality of life. People with depression typically feel helpless, hopeless, lethargic, and irritable.
Depression is a common disorder.
At any time, as many as 17 million Americans are suffering from depression. Depression requires treatment when it is present on more days than not and persists for more than two weeks. If depression is not addressed, it may interfere with a person's ability to receive or respond to cancer therapy. A combination of antidepressant medication and counseling can be very effective in restoring mood. In recent years a number of studies have looked at the question of whether St. John's wort is a safe and effective treatment for depression.