What are the signs of mild depression?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on February 04, 2025
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Signs of mild depression may also include a gloomy mood, an inability to feel joy, a sorrowful facial expression, and often downturned corners of the mouth. The head may be tilted forward with a downward gaze, and there might be fewer changes in posture. Patients may experience sleep disturbances, commonly having trouble falling asleep, waking repeatedly at night, and still being in the sleep process when waking up in the morning. Appetite reduction may not be very noticeable. Mood variations occur during the day, often with a worse mood in the evening compared to the morning. There is no significant slowing down of movement, but the emotional state of the patient is often poor. Some patients may experience symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, such as dizziness, headaches, and bodily discomfort, which are indicative of mild depression.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
1min 13sec home-news-image

Do patients with mild depression need to be hospitalized?

Patients with mild depression can choose inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. The main decision depends on the communication between the patient, their family, and medical professionals. Patients with mild depression have relatively mild depressive symptoms, so psychological therapy is primarily used, with pharmacotherapy and physical therapy serving as supplementary treatments. Psychological therapy mainly employs cognitive-behavioral therapy to improve the patient’s unreasonable beliefs and alleviate emotional stress. This includes identifying automatic thoughts, recognizing the irrationality of cognition, and employing reality testing, ultimately aiming to improve the patient's symptoms. Pharmacological treatment primarily uses serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and patients can adhere to a regular medication schedule at home during outpatient treatment periods. Physical therapy consists mainly of transcranial magnetic stimulation, which can be administered either as an outpatient or inpatient treatment. The final treatment choice should involve comprehensive communication with the patient's family and physicians to make an informed decision.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
1min 5sec home-news-image

Can postpartum depression breastfeed?

When postpartum depression occurs, it is possible to continue breastfeeding. If the depression is mild and no medication is taken, continuing breastfeeding will not affect the baby's growth and development. However, depression often leads to low spirits, frequent crying, and a reluctance to care for the child, which can affect milk secretion and lead to a reduction in milk supply that may not meet the baby's growth needs. In such cases, it may be necessary to add supplementary food or formula. If postpartum depression is severe and involves medication, these medications may enter the baby's body through the breast milk, which can affect the baby's health. Therefore, if postpartum depression occurs and medication is taken, breastfeeding should be stopped. (Note: The answer is for reference only. Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional physician, and blind medication should be avoided.)

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Is depression hereditary?

Depression has a certain hereditary tendency. Studies involving large samples have found that if first-degree relatives of patients with depression have the disorder, the incidence of the disease in their offspring is significantly higher than in the general population. Additionally, studies on twins have shown that the concordance rate of depression in monozygotic twins is significantly higher than in dizygotic twins. Research in genetic studies has revealed that depression is a polygenic disorder. Therefore, it is possible for offspring of parents with depression not to inherit the disease. The onset of depression is often influenced by genetic factors, biochemical factors, and various social and psychological factors. Thus, the genetic probability of developing depression is generally higher than in the general population.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Dietary Cautions for Geriatric Depression

Patients with geriatric depression currently find antidepressant medications and electroconvulsive therapy to be quite effective. However, due to lack of appetite and poor mental responsiveness in these patients, their nutritional status often remains unfulfilled. Therefore, we should enhance the dietary nutrition of elderly patients with depression. The focus should be on protein-rich foods such as eggs, shrimp, fish, chicken, and duck. Additionally, attention should be given to including roughage in the diet, ensuring daily fruit intake and vegetables in every meal.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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How to alleviate mild depression?

Mild depression can be managed clinically through self-adjustment and psychotherapy. Self-adjustment includes exercise, shifting focus, or verbal expression. Exercise is a very effective and quick way to alleviate depression by stimulating the brain to release endorphins, which have anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects. Additionally, diverting attention to activities of particular interest can enhance pleasure and motivate improvements. Furthermore, expressing one's depressive feelings through speech can also alleviate symptoms of mild depression. Moreover, psychotherapy mainly involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, which aims to continuously improve or correct irrational cognitive patterns and rebuild the cognitive system to effectively treat depression. This is a common approach in treating depression; medication adjustments, such as the use of new antidepressants, are also viable options. (Please follow professional medical advice before using any medication and do not self-medicate.)