Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voluntarily checked into a hospital Thursday “to receive treatment for clinical depression,” according to a statement from Adam Gentleson, his chief of staff.
“While John has experienced depression during his life, it has only become severe in recent weeks,” Gentleson wrote.
In May, during his campaign, facing off against Republican Mehmet Oz for the Senate seat, Fetterman suffered a stroke.
“After what he’s gone through over the past year, there’s probably no one who wants to talk about his health less than John. I’m so proud of him for seeking the help and getting the care he needed,” tweeted his wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman.
“I think it’s fantastic that Sen. Fetterman was working with a provider who recommended that she should receive the highest level of care and that she was able to access services quickly,” Psychiatry and Behavioral Health said Kristen Carpenter, a chief psychologist in the department at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
“Many patients struggle and suffer with these symptoms for a long time before seeking or receiving help,” he added. “At the very least, you can get relief faster when you’re connected to care.”
Depression is not uncommon after a major illness such as a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.
“Biochemical changes occur within brain structure after a stroke that can put them at greater risk for depression,” said stress management expert Dr. Cynthia Ecrill, Fellow of the American Institute of Stress.
“After you’ve had a stroke, it takes more work to do what you did before,” Ekrill said. “So you’re more tired and more stressed, and we know that prolonged exposure to cortisol that comes from stress makes you more prone to depression.”
risk for depression
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no one knows the exact cause of depression and why it is worse in some people than others.
“It may be due to a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors,” the CDC said.
Having a family member with depression increases the risk; So do traumatic experiences such as physical abuse or sexual assault, financial problems, and a major life change, such as losing a loved one, the CDC said.
Depression is also more common after a heart attack or diagnosis of cancer or chronic pain, and people with anxiety disorders are also more likely to suffer from depression, the CDC said. Substance abuse, such as alcohol, has also been associated with depressive symptoms.
Feelings of depression can be a side effect of many medications, including beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure, certain proton pump inhibitors used to treat acid reflux, and antidepressants used for inflammation and pain. Steroids, hormonal contraceptives, and more are included. A 2018 study found that more than 37% of American adults used drugs that could cause depression.
symptoms of depression
Symptoms of depression include “feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness or helplessness,” as well as a persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood, according to the American Stroke Association.
Other symptoms include fatigue and decreased energy; decreased interest or pleasure in daily activities, including sex; changes in appetite and weight; trouble with memory, concentration, planning, and decision-making; sleep changes, such as insomnia or oversleeping; and thoughts of death or suicide.
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Depression can be mild, moderate, or severe. Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a more severe form of depression.
According to the National Institute on Mental Health, “a person must have at least five depression symptoms every day, almost all day, for at least 2 weeks” to be diagnosed with clinical depression.
“One of the symptoms should be a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities. Children and adolescents may be irritable rather than depressed,” the institute said.
“We all experience times of sadness, or a lack of interest in things we usually enjoy, or other types of depressive symptoms,” Ohio State’s Carpenter said. “However, when someone slips into a major depressive episode, that means those symptoms are present daily, for most of the day, and they are functionally deteriorating — meaning that their ability to work to interface with their family and loved ones and to engage in normal activities of living.
treatment for depression
There are many treatments for depression, including antidepressant medications, psychological therapy, or a combination of the two. Carpenter said antidepressants usually work between four and eight weeks, and it’s not unusual for a person to try a variety of drugs before finding the best one.
“There are higher levels of care, such as hospice, that provide services available throughout the day to help you get through your recovery journey faster.”
If depression fails to respond to first-line treatment, providers may suggest other drugs such as esketamine, Carpenter said. Given by doctors as a nasal spray, esketamine is a new US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for treatment-resistant depression.
According to the National Institute on Mental Health, “it often works quickly — usually within a few hours — to relieve symptoms of depression”.
“If you have what we refer to as treatment-resistant depression, we can use things like TMS — transcranial magnetic stimulation — and we still use ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy. So really There’s a huge collection of treatments available,” Carpenter said.
“The key is getting care. Most people’s symptoms will go away with appropriate treatment through psychotherapy and/or medication.