P
Psychotherapy: Also called talk therapy, psychotherapy attempts to
help people relieve symptoms of depression by talking with a therapist,
and sometimes by learning how to change their behavior to avoid patterns
that contribute to depression.
R
Reactive depression: Refers to depression that results from difficult
situations in life, such as poverty or abuse; or difficult times in life,
such as during divorce, the death of a loved one or moving from one home
to another.
S
St. John's wort: An herbal treatment often used for mild-to-moderate
depression. So far, studies in the United States show that it is not effective
for major depression of moderate severity.
Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs):
The newest types of anti-depressants, SSNRIs work by acting on two chemical
messengers in the brain linked to depression, norepinephrine and serotonin.
Medications in this category include duloxetine hydrochloride (Cymbalta),
venlafaxine (Effexor) and nefazodone (Serzone).
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs work by increasing
the activity of serotonin in the brain. They include fluoxetine (Prozac),
sertaline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil) and citalopram
(Celexa).
Serotonin: A neurotransmitter believed to be connected to emotions. People
with depression often have too much or too little serotonin.
T
Tricyclics: Tricyclics are anti-depressant medications that work
on the chemical messengers norepinephrine and serotonin. Although they
are as effective in treating depression as newer drugs, their side effects
are usually more severe. As a result, doctors do not often prescribe them
as a first choice. Tricyclic medications include imipramine (Tofranil),
amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor) and desipramine (Norpramine).
