How to Tell

Recognizing Depression and Anxiety in Others

Do you think that someone you know has depression, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)?

Use the checklists below to tell if your friend or family member might have symptoms for any of these conditions. Just print out the checklist for the condition(s) you think he or she might have and help them fill it out.

Depression

Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. With depression, a person feels extremely sad and is not interested in everyday life. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps. It affects the way a person feels and the way he or she thinks about things.

Depression isn't the same as feeling "blue" for a while. People with depression can't simply "pull themselves together" and get better. It's not a sign of weakness or a character flaw. Without treatment, symptoms can last weeks, months, or even years.

Depression Checklist

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is also called social phobia. It's when a person feels very nervous and filled with anxiety symptoms in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have a constant, extreme fear of being watched and judged by other people. They're also afraid of being embarrassed by their own actions.

Social Anxiety Disorder Checklist

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can occur after a person has lived through a terrifying event. Often people with PTSD have constant scary thoughts and memories of what they went through. They also feel emotionally numb, especially with people they used to be close to.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist

Panic Disorder

People with panic disorder have feelings of terror that come on suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. These are called "panic attacks." Many people develop intense anxiety symptoms between attacks. They also worry about when and where the next attack will strike.

Panic Disorder Checklist

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

With obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a person has anxious thoughts or habits that he or she can't control. A person with OCD is consumed by these unwanted thoughts and images or they have the urge to do certain rituals over and over again.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Checklist

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Depression is a serious medical condition, which can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior. Children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior within the first few months of treatment. This risk must be balanced with the medical need. Those starting medication or changing doses should be watched closely for suicidal thoughts, worsening of depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. In children and teens, Zoloft is only approved for use in those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. A patient Medication Guide about "Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and Other Serious Mental Illnesses, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions" is available.

Zoloft is not for everyone. People taking MAOIs or pimozide shouldn't take Zoloft. Concomitant use of Zoloft with NSAIDs or aspirin may be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Side effects may include dry mouth, insomnia, sexual side effects, diarrhea, nausea and sleepiness. In studies, few people were bothered enough by side effects to stop taking Zoloft. Side effects may result from stopping Zoloft particularly when abrupt. You should, however, stop taking Zoloft if you get any of the following symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome, a rare but life-threatening reaction, such as fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, trouble thinking clearly, a change in mental functioning, sleepiness, or change in your breathing, heartbeat and blood pressure.

You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as there is a potential risk to the fetus with Zoloft. Like many antidepressants, Zoloft can be present in breast milk so tell your doctor if you are nursing.

Zoloft is approved to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in adults over age 18. It is also approved for OCD in children and adolescents age 6-17 years.

Zoloft is not habit-forming and is not associated with weight gain. So talk to your doctor about how Zoloft might help you. Zoloft comes in 25-mg, 50-mg, and 100-mg tablets. You and your doctor can discuss a dose for you.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

This product information is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.

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