Introduction

A 35-year-old housewife, Sushma, had been suffering from chestpain, palpitations, breathlessness, headache, sleeplessness, weakness and poor appetite for over six to eight months. The symptoms had increased gradually in the last one month. She had consulted many doctors and had 2 undergone thorough investigations including cardiogram, stress test, 2D Echo, etc. for cardiac disease. All the above investigations were normal and all the doctors who had examined her had said, “There is nothing wrong with you. You are only imagining the symptoms. This is all psychological.”

On the advice of a relative, the patient consulted a psychiatrist. On further inquiry, it was found that in addition to the above symptoms, she had lost interest in practically everything including concern for her only son. She had no desire and initiative to do any work, had become irritable and 5 had developed intolerance to noise. There were frequent crying spells and she felt that life was not worth living and that it was better to die.

This, like so many others, is a typical case of Depressive disease where the symptoms manifest themselves in physical complaints. In such cases, the doctors recommend clinical investigations for physical illness which turn out to be normal.

There are specific clinical symptoms and signs which help to diagnose Depressive disease. International classifiable systems are followed all over the world for diagnosis. These systems are followed for diagnosis of any psychiatric disease including Depressive disease. The patient mentioned here was given antidepressant drugs and psychotherapy. Within ten days her physical symptoms improved and she resumed working. In four weeks, she recovered very well and became almost the same as her normal self.

Depressive disease is a very commonly seen phenomenon all around us. Many people who are depressed are puzzled and confused about their feelings. They cannot understand themselves and they do not expect anyone else to understand them either. The people around them do not understand the situation and often suggest that the person should pull himself together, get out more and stop dwelling on how he feels. This, of course does not work and the patient feels more miserable than ever before. Withdrawing further from friends and family he is reluctant to consult a doctor as he feels that he would be wasting the doctor’s time and that the doctor would not be able to understand him. All these peculiar feelings—the bewilderment, the sense of inadequacy, the loss of confidence, hopelessness, the inability to describe just how one feels, are in fact, typical symptoms of Depressive disease. They are not only very upsetting, but are also misleading and very unfortunate.

Recent scientific knowledge has brought to light new biological aspects of the psychiatric diseases including Depressive disease. The symptoms of the Depressive disease are not under the control of the person concerned. There are biological changes in the brain because of which the symptoms are produced. Today, Depressive disease is a treatable illness. The results of treatment are comparable with any other medical illness.

In the course of the book, we will examine why these symptoms occur, who are the persons at maximum risk, what is the treatment as well as myths and realities surrounding the Depressive disease. The book will help in spreading scientific knowledge and reducing social stigma about the illness. With timely, proper treatment, suffering of the patient and his family will also be considerably reduced.