Everyone has a bad mood. But when it doesn’t go away for weeks and you no longer want to live, you need to go to a psychotherapist for help. We talked about depression with the assistant of the Department of Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology of GIDUV Alexey Anatolyevich ZDANOVICH. - Alexey Anatolyevich, how common is this condition among people? - According to world data statistics, depression ranks third in prevalence and frequency after colds and cardiovascular diseases, despite the fact that the diagnosis of depression lags 50 times behind reality. This is data from Professor N.A. Kornetov, Tomsk Research Institute of Mental Health. Unfortunately, in Russia we do not have government programs aimed at maintaining mental health. In America, for example, on television they show videos like our Anti-AIDS and “No to Drugs”, where they show the face of a depressed person on the screen, describe the symptoms and provide coordinates where to seek help. - Are there any specific symptoms of this condition? - There are many signs of depression. This is a depressed state, constant sadness, a chronic feeling of fatigue, powerlessness, loss of pleasant feelings. What used to make me happy no longer makes me happy. These are early awakenings at three or four in the morning, a depressed state in the morning, lethargy or, on the contrary, anxiety, loss of appetite, weight loss, decreased libido. Irritability, alcohol abuse, and hypochondria may appear. The body hurts as if it was beaten with sticks. And all this lasts for several weeks and months. - How to get rid of this condition? - The presence of two or three symptoms corresponds to a mild degree of depression, which can be dealt with with the help of psychotherapy, vitamin preparations, adaptogens, such as Eleutherococcus extract, Rhodiola extract pink, physiotherapy, massage, relaxation, change of scenery. Nootropic drugs are used (nootropil, piracetam, aminalon, gammalon, encephabol), as well as drugs such as ATP and Cerebrolysin. But if five or six of the symptoms listed above are present, a combination of psychotherapy with antidepressants (amitriptyline, anafranil) and antipsychotics (tizercin, sonapax) is necessary. But these drugs (antidepressants and antipsychotics) must be taken taking into account the individual person and strictly under the supervision of a doctor. If there are eight or more symptoms, hospitalization and intravenous drips are necessary. - Are we talking about a combination of any of the listed symptoms? - There are leading symptoms such as depression, constant sadness, loss of pleasant feelings, chronic fatigue. Two of the main ones and two of any other indicate the presence of a mild degree of depression. Moderate degree - these are two of the main and four of the general, so-called somatic. And severe - three main ones and the presence of bodily symptoms. Self-medication for moderate and severe cases is no less dangerous than self-medication for appendicitis. Unfortunately, the gloomy aura around psychiatry and psychiatrists scares away people who need qualified help. The fact is that a psychiatrist deals not only with mental disorders (“madness”), but also with emotional ones, which include depression. - Should people go “to the mountain”? But they are afraid that they will be registered. - According to the new law on psychiatric care, a person cannot be registered or hospitalized without his personal consent. Unfortunately, there are no psychiatric appointments in regular clinics. “Can’t you come to a psychotherapist first?” Do you need a psychiatrist? - You can come, but in cases where intensive treatment is needed, when it comes to moderate and severe degrees, the best effect is achieved by combining psychotherapy with drug treatment, which is carried out by psychiatrists. - Is depression curable? Or will you not be cured of life? - Yes, that’s true - you will not be cured of life. But the quality of life can be improved, and excessive suffering will become ordinary worries, strength will appear, mood will improve, and the joy of life will return. - Thank you for the hope.