National Depression Screening Day

Around the world, more than 260 million people struggle with some form of depression. This mood disorder brings on intense feelings of sadness. Depressed people can endure symptoms such as changes in appetite, causing overeating or undereating, and erratic sleep schedules with either too much or too little sleep, among other symptoms. A depressive episode sometimes develops in response to difficult life situations or, perhaps, a chronic medical problem. Cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, or medication can be effective tools to treat these symptoms.

Explore the targets in the image below to learn more about depression and the research advancing the development of treatments.

About the Author

Lynnie Fein-Schaffer

Lynnie is the former Outreach Associate for BrainFacts.org. She graduated from Smith College in 2017 with degrees in economics and psychology.