Services / Psychiatry / Depressive Disorders
Depressive Disorders
Depressive disorders are medical conditions that change how you feel, think, sleep, and function, not a mood you can simply talk yourself out of. They're common, and they're very treatable. shrinkMD provides board certified online care for depression with fast access and real continuity.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy
Understanding depression
Depression is medical, and it's treatable
Depression is more than sadness. It's a shift in brain chemistry, energy, motivation, sleep, and thinking that can make ordinary tasks feel impossible. People often blame themselves, but depression is an illness, not a character flaw or a failure of effort.
Because depression has many faces, an accurate diagnosis matters. It can look like classic low mood, or it can show up as irritability, numbness, fatigue, or physical aches. It also overlaps with anxiety and can follow seasonal patterns. A careful evaluation finds the right diagnosis and the right plan.
What we treat
Depressive conditions we treat
Each condition has its own page with deeper detail.
Major Depressive Disorder
Persistent low mood or loss of interest with changes in sleep, energy, appetite, focus, and self worth.
Learn more →Seasonal Affective Disorder
Depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most often in the darker months, and lifts as light returns.
Learn more →Related depressive conditions
Persistent depressive disorder and depression that travels with anxiety or other conditions.
Learn more →
Depression lifts with the right care. The first step is an accurate evaluation.
Treatment
How we treat depression
Comprehensive evaluation
We assess your mood, sleep, energy, appetite, focus, and safety, and rule out medical contributors like thyroid issues or vitamin deficiency.
Medication when it helps
Non controlled antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs, or bupropion can help when appropriate, chosen to fit your symptoms and side effect profile. For adults under 25, antidepressants carry an FDA warning about a short term increase in suicidal thoughts early in treatment, which is exactly why we schedule close follow up in the first weeks and watch for it together.
Therapy coordination
We coordinate evidence based therapy such as CBT or behavioral activation, which pairs well with medication or stands on its own.
Ongoing follow up
We track your response, adjust as needed, and aim for full remission, not partial improvement.
Beyond mood
What depression does to the whole system
Depression is not only sadness. It slows thinking and concentration, disturbs sleep in both directions, flattens appetite or drives it up, drains energy, and strips interest from things that used to matter, a symptom called anhedonia that patients often find hardest to explain.
It also distorts self perception, generating guilt and hopeless conclusions that feel like facts. Recognizing these as symptoms, not truths, is often the first relief treatment brings.
Treatment
Matched to severity, measured over time
For mild depression, structured therapy alone is often enough. For moderate to severe depression, the combination of an antidepressant and therapy clearly outperforms either alone. We track your PHQ-9 score at each visit, so improvement is visible on paper, not just by impression.
Once you are well, the work shifts to staying well. Continuing treatment for the recommended months after recovery, protecting sleep, and keeping follow ups dramatically lowers the chance of relapse.
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is depression really a medical condition?
Yes. Depression involves measurable changes in brain chemistry, sleep, energy, and thinking. It's a treatable illness, not a personal failing or something to push through alone.
Do you prescribe controlled medication for depression?
No. We treat depression with non controlled antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs, or bupropion, paired with therapy when helpful.
How fast can I be seen?
Many people schedule a full evaluation as soon as availability allows. Depression responds best when care starts before symptoms deepen.
Is online care effective for depression?
Yes. Research shows telepsychiatry matches in person care for depression, and it removes the effort and travel that depression makes harder.
What is the difference between sadness and clinical depression?
Sadness is a normal emotion that passes. Clinical depression lasts two weeks or more, affects sleep, energy, appetite, and concentration, and drains interest from things you usually enjoy. The difference is persistence and impairment.
Can depression come back after treatment?
It can. Risk of recurrence drops sharply when treatment continues for the recommended time after you feel better, and when follow up stays consistent. We plan for prevention, not just recovery.
What happens if depression goes untreated?
Untreated depression tends to deepen, last longer with each episode, and raise risk to work, relationships, physical health, and safety. Earlier treatment is easier and more effective treatment.
Does online treatment work for depression?
Yes. Evaluations, medication management, and therapy delivered by video show outcomes comparable to office based care for depression, with fewer missed appointments.
Sources
Sources and further reading
Get started with depression care
Depression is common and very treatable. Choose your state, complete the intake, and book your first appointment online, often as soon as availability allows.
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