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•Bipolar disorder
•Clinical social worker
•Dysthymia
•Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
•Major depressive disorder
•Nurse psychotherapist
•Pastoral counselor
•Postpartum depression
•Professional counselor
•Psychiatrists
•Psychologists
•Psychotherapy
•Seasonal affective disorder
Bipolar disorder — A type of mood disorder that has lows (major depressive episodes) and highs (manic episodes).
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Clinical social worker — A counselor with a master's degree in social work from an accredited graduate program trained to diagnose and provide counseling.
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Dysthymia — A form of minor depression in which people feel mildly depressed on most days for at least two years. Dysthymia has many symptoms that look like major depressive disorder, but they are less severe.
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) — A treatment in which an electric current is briefly applied to the brain. It is used to quickly relieve depression. It may be used in severe cases or if the depression doesn't respond to other forms of treatment.
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Major depressive disorder — An illness with sad or low mood that interferes with everyday activities; it is commonly referred to as depression.
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Nurse psychotherapist — A registered nurse who is trained in the practice of psychiatric and mental health nursing, and also is trained to diagnose and provide counseling.
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Pastoral counselor — Clergy with training in clinical pastoral education. Trained to diagnose and provide counseling.
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Postpartum depression — A major depressive episode that occurs in a mother after giving birth. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may appear within the first month after delivery, and up to a year later.
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Professional counselor — Counselor with a master's degree and several years of supervised clinical work experience. Trained to diagnose and provide counseling.
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Psychiatrists (si-KI-a-trists) — Doctors who specialize in treating mental, emotional, or behavioral problems. They have completed four years of study in an accredited medical school and at least four years of postgraduate training in psychiatry. They can prescribe medicines.
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Psychologists — Specialists in the science of the mind and behavior. They have an advanced degree from an accredited graduate program in psychology and get additional training to work with patients. They are trained to diagnose and provide counseling.
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Psychotherapy (si-ko-THER-a-pee) — A term that describes a variety of counseling (talking therapies) used to treat anxiety disorders or depression. Psychotherapy involves talking to a licensed professional during a series of appointments.
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Seasonal affective disorder — A major depressive disorder that occurs each year at the same time, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer.
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