Clinical Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) This Emotional Life on PBS



People who are depressed can’t just “snap out of it.” Depression is an illness that at least 17 million Americans experience each year.

There are many factors that contribute to depression, including genes, family history, and brain chemistry. Researchers continue to explore its precise causes, and they are finding mounting evidence that certain changes in the brain may enter into the complex mix of what causes depression. What is conclusively known is that depression is not a moral or emotional failing. It is a treatable illness.

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