Depression

We Can Help, Quickly and Confidentially

 

Mon-Fri, 9AM to 6PM (PST), call Dr. Mohammad’s office at 818-879-9018.
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E-mail Dr. Mohammad at: lvbehavioral@sbcglobal.net

Silent, dark, and frequently paralyzing, Depression is rarely understood by those people who haven't experienced it, however at Las Virgenes Behavioral Health depression is understood and empathized wtih. Dr. Mohammad successfully educates and effectively treats depressive disorders which manifest themselves in a variety of forms, just like heart disease does.

Common forms of depression

Major depression is the most severe form of depression. It interferes with your ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy activities and experiences that were once pleasureable and contributed to the quality of your life. Major depression can result from a single traumatic even in your life or can develop slowly over time without any obvious crisis causing it. When a major depression happens as the result of a single psychological event or trauma and is treated successfully, and never occurs again, this is called "episode depression."

Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression and involves long-term, chronic symptoms that aren't disabling, yet can interfere with your abilility to function as effectively as you used to. Many people with Dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes at various times in their lives.

Another type of depression is bipolar disorder or manic depressive illness and is characterized by cycling mood swings with extreme highs (mania) and extreme lows (depression). Sometimes mood changes can be dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. When depressed you can have any or all of the symptoms of depression listed below. When in the manic cycle, you may be overactive, over-reactive, over-talkative, and have great outbursts of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgement, and behaviors. Feelings may include elation and grandeur. Left untreated, mania may escalate to a psychotic state.

Treating Depression

Getting appropriate treatment begins with a physical examination by a physician, because certain medication or physical conditions can cause the same symptoms as depression. Ruling out any physical causes, a psychological evaluation is done by a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist. This is followed by a diagnostic evaluation.

Since all depression involves changes in the brain's chemistry, tTreatment will depend upon the outcomes of these evaluations. There are a variety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that are effective in treating depressive disorders.

For some people with milder forms of depression may do well with psychotherapy alone. Someone with moderate to severe depression most often benefits from antidepressants. Most people do best with combined treatment: medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life's challenges and problems, including depression.

If you’d like more information about Dr. Mohammad, or Malibu Horizon’s services, treatment programs, or facilities, please call (877) 338-6964 or emai