关于抑郁症的英语阅读理解

① 如何缓解抑郁症英语作文

在平平淡淡的日常中，大家都接触过作文吧，借助作文人们可以反映客观事物、表达思想感情、传递知识信息。那么问题来了，到底应如何写一篇优秀的作文呢？下面是我整理的如何缓解抑郁症英语作文，欢迎阅读，希望大家能够喜欢。

In recent years,more and more people have suffered from depression.With the increasingly fierce competition,more and more people are bearing great pressure from study,work and life.Under great pressure, many people begin to become sad,hopeless and finally suffer from depression.

Depression has brought great bad influence on one'study, work and life.In fact,depression affects not only one's mind but also his body. Those with severe depression even unable to continue their work or carry out normal activities of depression. The symptoms mainly include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, not wanting food and trouble sleeping.Besides, depression is linked to many other diseases, like heart disease, What's worse, deprssion is one of the main courses of people's suicide.

Considering the bad effects of depression, it must be taken more seriously. For those patients with depression, first of all ,it is important to accept treatment timely instead of covering or ignoring the disease. Besides,people shuold learn to release pressure and keep a pleasant mood. Actually,the best treatment is a combination of medication and psychological help.Only in this way can people rece the chance of suffering from depression.

近年来，越来越多的.人患上了抑郁症。随着竞争的日益激烈，越来越多的人所承受的巨大压力来自学习，工作和生活。在巨大的压力下，许多人开始变得难过，绝望，最后患上抑郁症。

抑郁带来了巨大的坏的影响，工作和生活。事实上，抑郁症不仅影响人的心灵，而且他的身体。那些有严重的抑郁症，甚至无法继续工作，或进行抑郁症的正常活动。主要的症状包括悲伤，绝望的感觉，不想食物和睡觉。此外，忧郁症与许多其他疾病，如心脏病，更糟的是，抑郁症是人们自杀的主要原因。

考虑到抑郁的不良影响，必须采取更多的重视。对于抑郁症患者，首先，就要及时接受治疗，而不是覆盖或忽略的疾病很重要。此外，人们应该学会释放压力，保持愉快的心情。其实，最好的治疗方法是药物和心理治疗相结合。只有这样，可以减少人们患抑郁症的机会。

② 抑郁症的英文单词含义及其症状与治疗

抑郁症患者不仅仅在精神科就诊，因为很多疾病都可能伴随抑郁。如何快速识别抑郁症患者及其自杀倾向，对医务工作者来说尤为重要。以下是我为大家精心整理的抑郁症的相关内容，欢迎大家阅读参考!

抑郁症的英文单词各字母含义

抑郁症(重性抑郁障碍)的症状表现其实可以用一个英文单词来概括，即 Depression，其中各个字母代表的含义分别为：

D depression mood 抑郁心境;

E energy decreased 疲乏或精力不足;

P psychomotor changes 精神运动性改变;

R reced concentration in decision-making 做决定时注意力下降;

E esteem decreased, excessive guilt 自尊心下降和过度自责;

S sleep changes 睡眠情况改变;

S suicidal ideation / behavior 自杀意念/行为;

I interest decreased 兴趣减低;

O

N nutritional and weight change 食欲和体重改变。

是不是非常简单明了?下面我们就逐个字母来看下吧。

D

抑郁心境

Depression mood.

此处既可以是抑郁心境，又可以是易激惹(在儿童和青少年中更容易出现)。

因一些患者存在述情障碍(alexthymia，a = 不能，lex = 使用词汇，thymia = 心境)，在正确描述自己的情绪状态上有明显困难，所以需要医生多次重复询问：悲伤，低落，郁闷，忧愁，沮丧，兴趣下降。多换用这些词汇，可以使患者的阳性诊断增加三倍。

E

精力不足或疲乏

Energy decreased.

对于精力不足或疲乏，可以通过下面两个问题进行评估：

1. 过去 2 个月以来，你觉得身体比以前或平时，更加疲劳或精力不足吗?

2.(如果问题 1 是否定)即使运动量很小，比如逛街，你的身体也比想象中更加疲劳?

P

精神运动性改变

Psychomotor changes.

精神运动性改变即精神运动性激越和迟滞，包括 4 组症状，抑郁症患者的 4 组症状可能以任何组合形式出现。

精神性激越：易怒、内心紧张感，这是激越的内心体验。

运动性激越：踱步、紧张、双手出汗，这是激越的运动表现。

精神性迟滞：感觉缓慢、思维迟缓、情感反应慢、无思考能力，这是精神活动缓慢，或情感信息加工缓慢的内在体验。

运动性迟滞：明显的活动减少、走路缓慢、反应速度慢、发呆或凝视。

由于这 4 组症状通常是混合存在的，所以不要去寻找单纯的精神性改变或运动性改变。应先逐个询问 4 组症状中的每一个症状，然后再判断患者是精神性的还是运动性的，是激越还是迟滞。

R

做决定时注意力下降

Reced concentration in decision-making.

下面的 3 个问题，可以评估患者的注意力：

1. 你能坐着看完一场电影吗?能记住故事的主要情节吗?

2. 你阅读报纸的时候，能从文字的开头读到结尾吗?能理解文字的意思吗?

3. 休息片刻之后，你能继续原来的话题吗?还是忘掉了刚才的交谈?

儿童注意力下降的表现可能为成绩直线下降;而老年人注意力下降的表现可能为记忆困难，需要与痴呆进行鉴别。

E

低自尊，过度自罪感

Esteem decreased, excessive guilt.

除了自杀观念，自责和自罪感是抑郁症患者最不愉快和讨厌的症状，85% 的患者都可能存在。即使没有处于抑郁发作期，患者依然可以存在持续性的自罪感;当抑郁发作时，这些感受可能会更加强烈。

评估自责自罪的 3 个问题：

1. 在过去 5 周内，与以往相比，你更加沮丧或自罪吗?

2. 在过去 5 周内，你感觉自己很沮丧吗?

3. 在过去 5 周内，你有没有对自己失去信心?

一些患者认为，由于目前的状态，不能履行自己的角色职责，让亲人、朋友或同事失望了，这无疑会增加他们的心理负担。

此外，需要注意，严重抑郁症患者，其自罪感可以达到妄想的程度，以至于患者认为要为与他无关的事情负责。

S

睡眠过多或过少

Sleep changes.

大多数抑郁症的患者，不管是睡多了还是睡少了，都会精神萎靡。

针对失眠的抑郁症患者，可以做如下询问，以判断失眠的类型：

起始失眠(入睡困难)：在过去几年里，当你觉得情绪低落的时候，你入睡有困难吗?

中段失眠(睡眠维持困难或频繁觉醒)：在过去几年里，你能够睡熟吗?你在夜间会经常醒来吗?

终末失眠(早醒，醒后无法继续入睡)：在过去的几年里，你有没有发现醒来比预期早?或者是觉得自己应该多睡一会儿，但又睡不着?

S

自杀意念或行为

Suicidal ideation / behavior.

若确定患者存在自杀观念或行为，应询问以下 4 个问题：

1. 你想要结束自己的生命有多长时间了?你是每天都在想自杀吗，还是每周想几次?——评估患者是否经常考虑自杀问题。

2. 你有做过自杀计划吗?若没有自杀成功，还有其他自杀计划吗?——询问自杀计划的细节、和自杀的替代计划。

3. 你自杀的计划实施得怎么样了?——评估进程。

4. 当自杀的意愿越来越强的时候，抵制这些想法有难度吗?——询问患者如何发现这种想法以及患者的行动意图。

I

兴趣减少或快感缺乏

Interest decreased.

患者并未进行大量的体力活动，但对于体力活动要求很少的任务，依然觉得需要付出很大的劲儿才能完成。

N

食欲和体重变化

Nutritional and weight change.

食欲变化指食欲的减退或增强，有的患者还可能偏爱一些特定的食物，如甜食。对于儿童这一特殊人群，体重变化可以是指体重不能达到预期的标准。

需要特别一提的是，根据 DSM-5 的诊断标准，抑郁症(重性抑郁障碍)的诊断必须满足上述 9 项中的 5 项，且 D(抑郁心境)和 I(兴趣减少或快感缺乏)这两项中必须具备一项;症状持续的时间必须要达到 2 周以上;并且需要排除其他原因所致的精神障碍。

抑郁症的症状

1.抑郁心境程度不同，可从轻度心境不佳到忧伤、悲观、绝望。病人感到心情沉重，生活没意思，高兴不起来，郁郁寡欢，度日如年，痛苦难熬，不能自拔。有些病人也可出现焦虑、易激动、紧张不安。

2.丧失兴趣是抑郁病人常见症状之一。丧失既往生活、工作的热忱和乐趣，对任何事都兴趣索然。体验不出天伦之乐，对既往爱好不屑一顾，常闭门独居，疏远亲友，回避社交。病人常主诉“没有感情了”、“情感麻木了”、“高兴不起来了”。

3.精力丧失，疲乏无力，洗漱、着衣等生活小事困难费劲，力不从心。病人常用“精神崩溃”、“泄气的皮球”来描述自己的状况。

4.自我评价过低：病人往往过分贬低自己的能力，以批判、消极和否定的态度看待自己的现在、过去和将来，这也不行，那也不对，把自己说得一无是处，前途一片黑暗。强烈的自责、内疚、无用感、无价值感、无助感，严重时可出现自罪、疑病观念。

5.病人呈显著、持续、普遍抑郁状态，注意力困难、记忆力减退、脑子迟钝、思路闭塞、行动迟缓，但有些病人则表现为不安、焦虑、紧张和激越。

6.消极悲观：内心十分痛苦、悲观、绝望，感到生活是负担，不值得留恋，以死求解脱，可产生强烈的'自杀念头和行为。

7.躯体或生物学症状：抑郁病人常有食欲减退、体重减轻、睡眠障碍、性功能低下和心境昼夜波动等生物学症状，很常见，但并非每例都出现：

食欲减退、体重减轻：多数病人都有食欲不振，胃纳差症状，美味佳肴不再具有诱惑力，病人不思茶饭或食之无味，常伴有体重减轻。

性功能减退：疾病早期即可出现性欲减低，男性可能出现阳痿，女病人有性感缺失。

睡眠障碍：典型的睡眠障碍是早醒，比平时早2～3小时，醒后不复入睡，陷入悲哀气氛中。

抑郁症治疗方法

1、代性疗法：对于传统西医不能治疗的抑郁症，可以使用替代性疗法，包含从饮食运动到社会环境生活方式等一系列抑郁症的治疗方法。

2、反射疗法：是对患者手脚固定部位施加压力的一种技术，反射论者认为人体有自身修复功能，手脚中的神经和身体其他部位相联系。通过刺激手脚一定部位，就可以通过反射原理治疗疾病。这也属于抑郁症的治疗方式。

3、物理疗法：是以一种预防、治疗、及处理因疾病或伤害所带来的动作问题的医疗专业。主要是借着自然界中的物理因子、运用人体生理学原理法则等，针对人体局部或全身性的功能障碍或病变，施予适当的非侵入性、非药物性治疗来处理患者身体不适和病痛治疗方式，使其尽可能地恢复其原有的生理功能。这些抑郁症的治疗比较常见。

抑郁症治疗

1、在抑郁症的治疗中，药物发挥着重要而积极的作用，是治疗抑郁症不可缺少的关键措施。但是患者决不可单纯依靠药物而忽视生活和心理方面的调理。针对抑郁症的治疗措施应当是综合性的，包括生活、心理和药物的共同作用，这样才能取得事半功倍的良好效果。

2、抑郁症患者的生活具有规律性，按时作息、进餐，安排好运动、娱乐时间，避免整天呆在家中将自己“封闭”起来。调节心态，使生活充满情趣，既增强治病信心又提高生活质量。因此，这也是属于抑郁症的治疗方式的一种。

2、在一般人的潜意识中认为凡属精神疾病用药都有很大副作用，用多了会“伤害脑子”。因而有些老年人对抗抑郁症药使用也顾虑甚多，以为是轻型抑郁症最好不用药，要用也最好是偶尔用用，不可多用，更不可长期服药。这是一种误识。老年抑郁症患者应当与医生保持密切联系，在医生指导下合理使用抗抑郁药，坚持足够抑郁症的治疗的疗程。

工作“抑郁症”青睐职业女性

前几天，记者在女子医院健康管理中心采访时发现，目前职业女性易患工作场所抑郁症。

前来就诊的王娜(化名)30多岁了，从事外贸工作。她在大学毕业进入社会后，由于能力突出，在很短的时间内就做了部门经理，得到了老总的赏识。对于其他人来说，她已经成功了，但她发现自己仍然要再进一步。她的业绩越好，老总对她的要求也越高，她更应该快速地步入上层。为此，她把全身心投入到工作中，无暇顾及谈朋友。

30多岁的人，她还没有成家。但她是人，不是机器，更不是创造成功的机器，她也有自己的情感。当然，父母对她的压力也很大，总说她应该成家了，但由于她已经走到很高的位置了，又不能放下架子，所以总处于彷徨状态。她说不敢见父母，特别怕看到父母那双渴望与担忧的眼神。但由于人的能力是有限的，长期工作的压力，她说自己真想放弃，无奈之下，她只得求助于健康管理中心的心理医生。

健康管理中心的大夫说她患的是工作场所抑郁症。据了解，这种病的症状是，身体的某个部位疼痛，或是疲劳、睡不着、吃不下……进一步发展就会造成没有心情进行日常活动。严重的还会导致患者脾气暴躁，甚至还可能产生自杀的念头。孕妇和为人妻、为人母、为人下属的职业女性，是工作场所抑郁症的易患人群。

医学专家说，科技进步所形成的资讯饱和、工作过量和工作不稳定，都是导致工作场所抑郁的主要因素。工作场所抑郁症是继心脏病之后，第二种最有可能使员工失去工作能力的疾病。如果不采取行动，专家预测，这种疾病蔓延的速度之快，将足以在2020年之前超越公路意外、艾滋病和暴力，成为员工早夭和失去工作能力的主要因素。

如何远离工作场所抑郁症呢?医学专家建议，轻微的抑郁症，可通过各种放松活动、运动来调节，平时也可参加讲座，学习自己控制生活中的压力。如果病症较重，就要尽早接受治疗。

抑郁症调养小常识医师介绍，抑郁症主要表现为悲观、绝望、烦躁、失眠、兴趣减少或注意力分散等。若想减少抑郁症的发病几率，应注重平时的自我调养。

做最感兴趣的事。有计划地做些能够获得快乐和自信的活动，尤其在周末，譬如打扫房间、听音乐、逛街等。另外，生活正常规律化也很重要。

广交良友。“朋友是良医”，交朋友首先是可以倾诉衷肠的知心，还要结交一些饶有风趣、逗人发笑、使人愉快的朋友。养成和朋友经常保持接触的习惯。

避免服用某些药物。口服避孕药、巴比妥类、可的松、磺胺类药、利血平可引起抑郁症，应尽量避免使用。

另外，多吃些富含维生素B和氨基酸的食物，如谷类、鱼类、绿色蔬菜、蛋类等，对于摆脱抑郁症也有裨益。

③ 英语阅读部分翻译！急急急！！！

划线的部分意思就是 导致了抑郁症更加严重。
一下是全段翻译：

当人们变得抑郁时，往往会因为一些毫无根据的，夸大的想法而是自己烦恼。
他们也许自己并不能意识到，但是这些想法会让他们的抑郁更加严重。
比如说一个抑郁的人会这么想“我没能做成那个工作，所以我一定是人生彻底的失败者。我永远都不会得到一个工作许可了。”诸如此类的过分夸大的想法我们就叫做抑郁。
是不是所有不好的想法都会造成抑郁症呢？
当然不完全是这样的。抑郁症是一个复杂过程形成的结果，包括了遗传因素，生化因素，环境因素，社会因素以及一些其他因素。
最近LAURA JEAN BIERUT博士和她的同时在华盛顿大学的研究发现了男人和女人在形成抑郁症的时候，是大不相同的。
男人抑郁症的产生只有少部分与家庭或遗传因素相关，但是大部分都是受到环境因素影响。
女人抑郁症的产生更多的是与家庭和遗传因素相关。
不论是男人或者女人，环境因素都是产生抑郁的重要原因。
因此，尽管这是非常重要的一个理论，但仅仅只是抑郁症的冰山一角。

手翻，采纳啊采纳啊

④ 谁帮我看篇英语阅读。求大意！前两段看不清可跳过。

第一段看来得不是很清楚，大源致讲的是作者得了抑郁症生活的有点压抑和悲观，有一个晚上让他明白了什么是快乐，二三段讲的是作者在去吃晚饭的路上看到了一个很美丽的卖裙子的老挝少女，让他想起了他的童年等等，四五段讲的是作者买裙子以及和少女讲价的经过，经过几次讨价还价两人达成共识之后作者以买第一条的价格又买了另外两条，在少女本可以给他更优惠的价格之前他就付了钱，之后少女很开心的笑了，让作者感受到了感动和快乐。后面两段拍的不全看的不清所以就不翻译了，另外从文中可以推定作者应该不是老挝本地人，大致上就是这样，希望能帮到你。

⑤ 高中英语阅读理解 53题这里的C怎么翻译

翻译:除了电视，其他媒介的长时间应用并没有增加患抑郁症的几率。

⑥ 英语阅读之抑郁症

英语阅读之抑郁症

最近看到很多关于抑郁症的文章，大多不是认歼睁为他们心理调节能力差就是大灌心灵鸡汤。临床诊断的抑郁症一般不是靠“调节”可以解决问丛码题的!请不要再武断地对患有抑郁症的亲友说’你要调整心态.......一氏郑岁时的`生活不顺利心情不好不能称之为抑郁症。而临床抑郁症和遗传和生理因素都有很多关系。

How Is Biology Related to Depression?

生理和抑郁症 - 患者大脑的不同

Researchers have noted differences in the brains of people who are depressed as compared to people who are not. For instance, the hippocampus, a small part of the brain that is vital to the storage of memories, appears to be smaller in some people with a history of depression than in those who've never been depressed. A smaller hippocampus has fewer serotonin receptors. Serotonin is one of many brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters that allow communication across circuits that connect different brain regions.

Scientists do not know why the hippocampus may be smaller in some people with depression. Some researchers have found that the stress hormone cortisol is proced in excess in depressed people. These investigators believe that cortisol has a toxic or "shrinking" effect on the development of hippocampus. Some experts theorize that depressed people are simply born with a smaller hippocampus and are therefore inclined to suffer from depression. There are many other brain regions, and pathways between specific regions, thought to be involved with depression, and likely, no single brain structure or pathway fully accounts for clinical depression.

One thing is certain -- depression is a complex illness with many contributing factors. The latest scans and studies of brain chemistry suggest that antidepressants can help sustain nerve cells and allow them to form stronger connections that withstand biological stresses (called "neurotrophic effects"). As scientists gain a better understanding of the causes of depression, health professionals will be able to make better "tailored" diagnoses and, in turn, prescribe more effective treatment plans.

How Is Genetics Linked to the Risk of Depression?

遗传和抑郁症 - 家族抑郁症

We know that depression can sometimes run in families. This suggests that there's at least a partial genetic link to depression. Children, siblings, and parents of people with severe depression are somewhat more likely to suffer from depression than are members of the general population. Multiple genes interacting with one another in special ways probably contribute to the various types of depression that run in families. Yet despite the evidence of a family link to depression, it is unlikely that there is a single "depression" gene, but rather many genes that each contribute small effects toward depression when they interact with the environment.

Can Certain Drugs Cause Depression

药物和抑郁症 - 某些药物可能导致抑郁症

In certain people, drugs may lead to depression. For example, medications such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and the acne drug Accutane have sometimes been associated with depression, especially in older people. Likewise, medications such as corticosteroids, opioids (codeine, morphine), and anticholinergics taken to relieve stomach cramping can sometimes cause mania, which is a highly elated and energized state that can also be associated with bipolar disorder.

For in depth information, see WebMD's Medicines That Cause Depression.

What’s the Link Between Depression and Chronic Illness?

疾病和抑郁症 - 有些疾病可能引发抑郁症

In some people, a chronic illness causes depression. A chronic illness is an illness that lasts for a very long time and usually cannot be cured completely. However, chronic illnesses can often be controlled through diet, exercise, lifestyle habits, and certain medications. Some examples of chronic illnesses that may cause depression are diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Hypothyroidism may also lead to depressed feelings.

Researchers believe that treating the depression may sometimes also help the co-existing illness improve.

Is Depression Linked to Chronic Pain?

生理疼痛和抑郁症 - 暂时的疼痛一般不会导致抑郁症

When pain lingers for weeks to months, it's referred to as being "chronic." Not only does chronic pain hurt, it also disturbs your sleep, your ability to exercise and be active, your relationships, and your proctivity at work. Can you see how chronic pain may also leave you feeling sad, isolated, and depressed?

There is help for chronic pain and depression. A multifaceted program of medicine, psychotherapy, support groups, and more can help you manage your pain, ease your depression, and get your life back on track.

For in depth information, see Depression and Chronic Pain.

Does Depression Often Occur With Grief?

悲痛和抑郁症 - 一时的悲伤不是抑郁症

Grief is a common response to loss. Losses that may lead to grief include the death or separation of a loved one, loss of a job, death or loss of a beloved pet, or any number of other changes in life, such as divorce, becoming an "empty nester," or retirement.

Anyone can experience grief and loss, but not everyone will experience depression, which differs from grief in that depression involves feelings of low self-worth and suicide, while grief involves feelings of loss and longing for a loved one. Each person is unique in how he or she copes with these feelings.

For in depth information, see Grief and Depression.

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⑦ 了解抑郁症Depression关注身边的抑郁症患者「英语阅读」

了解抑郁症Depression关注身边的抑郁症患者「英语阅读」

哈佛健康杂志介绍说抑郁症的原因并不是大脑中某一种化学物质过低或者过高，而往往是因为多种化学物肢镇质工作异常。我们大脑中有数以百万计甚至更多的化学反应，决定了我们的情绪以及我们的生活感受。

What is depression? 什么毕饥茄是抑郁症?

手察Feeling sad, or what we may call "depressed", happens to all of us. The sensation usually passes after a while. However, people with a depressive disorder - clinical depression - find that their state interferes with daily life.

任何人都会有感觉不快、郁闷或者悲伤的经历，但是这些感受都是暂时的。然而，有depressive disorder - clinical depression -抑郁症的.人，却终身受到抑郁的折磨。

For people with clinical depression, their normal functioning is undermined to such an extent that both they and those who care about them are affected by it.

Melancholia - clinical depression is a fairly modern term. Hippocrates, known as the father of Western medicine, described a syndrome of "melancholia". He said melancholia was a distinct disease with specific physical and mental symptoms. Hippocrates characterized it as "(all) fears and despondencies, if they last a long time" as being symptomatic of the illness.

抑郁症怎么得的?

Depression is an extremely complex disease. It occurs for a variety of reasons. Some people experience depression ring a serious medical illness. Others may have depression with life changes such as a move or the death of a loved one. Still others have a family history of depression. Those who do may experience depression and feel overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness for no known reason.

What Are the Main Causes of Depression?

诱发抑郁症的主要原因

There are a number of factors that may increase the chance of depression, including the following:

Abuse. 虐待 Past physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can cause depression later in life.

Certain medications. 某些药物 Some drugs, such as Accutane (used to treat acne), the antiviral drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids, can increase your risk of depression.

Conflict. 争吵(人际关系困扰) Depression in someone who has the biological vulnerability to develop depression may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends.

Death or a loss.丧亲 Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, may increase the risk of depression.

Genetics.遗传 A family history of depression may increase the risk. It's thought that depression is a complex trait that may be inherited across generations, although the genetics of psychiatric disorders are not as simple or straightforward as in purely genetic diseases such as Huntington's chorea or cystic fibrosis.

Major events.重大事件 Even good events such as starting a new job, graating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income, getting divorced, or retiring.

Other personal problems.其他个人困扰 Problems such as social isolation e to other mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can lead to depression.

Serious illnesses.严重疾病 Sometimes depression co-exists with a major illness or is a reaction to the illness.

Substance abuse.滥用药物等 Nearly 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have major or clinical depression.

What causes depression?

Nobody is sure what causes depression. Experts say depression is caused by a combination of factors, such as the person's genes, their biochemical environment, personal experience and psychological factors.

抑郁症的起因很复杂，很难有确切的定论。

A study published in Archives of Psychiatry found that MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans showed patients with clinical depression had less brain volume in several regions, including the frontal lobe, basal ganglia and hippocampus. They also found that after treatment the hippocampus returned to normal size.

The Stanford School of Medicine says that genes do play a role in causing depression. By studying cases of major depression among identical twins (whose genes are 100% identical) and non-identical twins (whose genes are 50% identical) they found that heritability is a major contributory factor in the risk of developing depression.

斯坦福医学院说基因起了很大作用。通过对同卵双胞胎和异卵双胞胎的观察研究，发现遗传因素可能是导致抑郁的主要原因。

An article in Harvard Health Publicaitons explains that depression is not caused simply by the level of one chemical being too low and another too high. Rather, several different chemicals are involved, working both within and outside nerve cells. There are "Millions, even billions, of chemical reactions that make up the dynamic system that is responsible for your mood, perceptions, and how you experience life."

An awful experience can trigger a depressive illness. For example, the loss of a family member, a difficult relationship, physical sexual abuse.

哈佛健康杂志介绍说抑郁症的原因并不是大脑中某一种化学物质过低或者过高，而往往是因为多种化学物质工作异常。大脑中有数以百万计甚至更多的化学反应，决定了你的情绪以及你的生活体验。

抑郁症非常常见，女性患病的几率大大高于男性。很多抑郁症患者不会或者不愿寻求治疗。

According to the National Institutes of Health, a significant percentage of people with depressive illness never seek medical help. This is unfortunate, because the vast majority, even those with very severe symptoms, can improve with treatment.

How common is clinical depression? - Nobody is sure exactly how many people are affected by depression. Health authorities from country to country and even within the same nation publish different figures:

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 6.7% of American alts have had depressive illness ring the last 12 months, and 30.4% of these cases (2% of the whole alt population) have severe symptoms.

While the National Institute of Mental Health says women are 70% more likely to develop depressive symptoms ring their lifetime, an article published in JAMA Psychiatry (August 2013 issue) showed thatdepression affects 30.6% of men and 33.3% of women, not a statistically significant difference.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimates that in the United Kingdom 21 in every 1,000 16-to-65 year olds live with major depression (17/1000 males and 25/1000 females). If "mixed depression and anxiety", a less specific and broader category is included, the prevalence rises to 98 per 1,000.

In Australia only 1 in every five people with clinical depression is accurately diagnosed, according to theState Government of Victoria, "because depression can mask itself as a physical illness like chronic pain, sleeplessness or fatigue."

抑郁症的种类Types of depression

There are several forms of depression (depressive disorders). Major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder are the most common.

Major depressive disorder (major depression)

Major depressive disorder is also known as major depression. The patients suffer from a combination of symptoms that undermine their ability to sleep, study, work, eat, and enjoy activities they used to find pleasurable.

Experts say that major depressive disorder can be very disabling, preventing the patient from functioning normally. Some people experience only one episode, while others have recurrences.

Dysthymic disorder (dysthymia)

Dysthymic disorder is also known as dysthymia, or mild chronic depression. The patient will suffer symptoms for a long time, perhaps as long as a couple of years, and often longer. The symptoms are not as severe as in major depression - they do not disable the patient. However, people affected with dysthymic disorder may find it hard to function normally and feel well.

Some people experience only one episode ring their lifetime, while others may have recurrences.

A person with dysthymia might also experience major depression, once, twice, or more often ring their lifetime. Dysthymia can sometimes come with other symptoms. When they do, it is possible that other forms of depression are diagnosed.

For a patient to be diagnosed with dysthymia he or she must have experienced a combination of depressive symptoms for at least two years.

Psychotic depression

When severe depressive illness includes hallucinations, delusions, and/or withdrawing from reality, the patient may be diagnosed with psychotic depression. Psychotic depression is also referred to as delusional depression.

Postpartum depression (postnatal depression)

Postpartum depression is also known as postnatal depression or PND. This is not to be confused with 'baby blues' which a mother may feel for a very short period after giving birth.

If a mother develops a major depressive episode within a few weeks of giving birth it is most likely she has developed postpartum depression. Experts believe that about 10% to 15% of all women experience this type of depression after giving birth. Sadly, many of them go undiagnosed and suffer for long periods without treatment and support.

Postpartum depression can start any time within a year of giving birth, according to the National Library of Medicine.

SAD (seasonal affective disorder)

SAD is much more common the further from the equator you go, where the end of summer means the beginning of less sunlight and more dark hours. A person who develops a depressive illness ring the winter months might have SAD.

SAD symptoms go away ring spring and/or summer. In Scandinavia, where winter can be very dark for many months, patients commonly undergo light therapy - they sit in front of a special light. Light therapy works for about half of all SAD patients. In addition to light therapy, some people may needantidepressants, psychotherapy, or both. Light therapy is becoming more popular in other northern countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom.

The National Health Service9, UK, suggest that sunlight may stimulate the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls sleep, appetite and mood.

Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness)

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. It used to be known as manic depression. It is not as common as major depression or dysthymia. A patient with bipolar disorder experiences moments of extreme highs and extreme lows. These extremes are known as manias.

抑郁症的迹象和症状

Signs and symptoms

epression is not uniform. Signs and symptoms may be experienced by some sufferers and not by others. How severe the symptoms are, and how long they last depends on the indivial person and his illness. Below is a list of the most common symptoms:

A constant feeling of sadness, anxiety, and emptiness

A general feeling of pessimism sets in (the glass is always half empty)

The person feels hopeless

Indivials can feel restless

The sufferer may experience irritability

Patients may lose interest in activities or hobbies they once enjoyed

He/she may lose interest in sex

Levels of energy feel lower, fatigue sets in

Many people with a depressive illness find it hard to concentrate, remember details, and make decisions

Sleep patterns are disturbed - the person may sleep too little or too much

Eating habits may change - he/she may either eat too much or have no appetite

Suicidal thoughts may occur - some may act on those thoughts

The sufferer may complain more of aches and pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems. These problems do not get better with treatment.

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⑧ 求这篇英语阅读的大意

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