Each year an increasing number of people consults their doctors for depression. It is a word used to describe a wide spectrum of moods which, perhaps inevitably, are often misunderstood. Sometimes when people say they are feeling depressed, all they really mean is that they are fed up, sad or feeling a bit under the weather.

Nowadays experts tend to categorize depression in terms of degree. For instance, mild depression, which may occur after an upset, leaves you feeling low but still able to cope with everyday life; moderate depression reduces normal functioning; and severe depression is a chronic condition which can often prevent the sufferer from thinking clearly, being able to get out of bed and going to work.

There is usually an obvious cause for depression such as marital break-up, death of someone close, financial or legal problems or unemployment. The common emotions associated with these, such as feelings of failure, betrayal and disappointment, can all create depression. Some people are better able to cope with stress and anxiety, whereas others are more easily upset and more prone to depression depending on their personality and circumstances.