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Terms M-P

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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
This is a physician's term for a specific type of depression. A person who suffers from a major depressive disorder must have either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. The person must have these symptoms consistently for at least a 2-week period. Furthermore, this mood must represent a change from the person's normal mood. It should also be having a negative impact on his or her daily function, such as family, work, socializing, etc. A depressed mood caused by drugs or alcohol, or one caused by a medical condition, is not considered a major depressive disorder. Remember, only a doctor can properly diagnose this or any other disorder. Learn about the symptoms of depression.


MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

An older class of antidepressants, which are now rarely prescribed as a first treatment option. Nardil® (phenelzine sulfate tablets, USP)* and Parnate® (tranylcypromine sulfate)† are examples of MAOIs.


Neurotransmitter
A "chemical messenger" responsible for communication between nerve cells in the brain. The activity of the many different neurotransmitters is believed to affect brain function and mood. Many antidepressant medicines work by helping to restore the normal level of neurotransmitters in the brain.


NSAIDS
NSAIDs -- or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- are among the most common pain relief medicines in the world. They are used primarily to treat inflammation, mild to moderate pain, and fever.


Placebo
A pill with no active ingredients, such as a sugar pill. Placebo is often used in a clinical trial as a standard against which to test and compare the efficacy and safety of another drug.


Psychotherapy
Also known as "talk" therapy, or counseling. In the treatment of depression, it is aimed at helping the patient develop new ways to cope with challenges in life, and to identify and understand more about depression and how to avoid it in the future. Psychotherapy may take place in individual, group, or family sessions, and the process itself may take some time before it is effective.


Parnate is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.
Nardil is a registered trademark of Parke-Davis.

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