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 two-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.
Paxil® (paroxetine HCL)
Paxil is a medicine used to treat depression, panic disorder, social
anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Paxil is a
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that treats the symptoms
of these conditions by restoring the balance of serotonin in the brain.
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.
Prozac® (fluoxetine hydrochloride)
Prozac was the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
It is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic
disorder, and bulimia nervosa. Prozac treats the symptoms of depression
by increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain.
Parnate and Paxil are registered trademarks of GlaxoSmithKline.
Prozac is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.
Nardil is a registered trademark of Parke-Davis.
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