F11: Help in Depression

CE Hours

3 CE Credits

Course Description

Help in Depression: Symptoms and Treatment is a short course that examines the types, symptoms, causes, and treatments for depression. This course covers major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder; the biological, genetic, and environmental causes of depression; depression across special populations including women, men, the elderly, and children; evidence-based treatments including antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, and ECT; recent neuroscience research findings; and self-help principles for recovery. Learners will be prepared to analyze cases of depression, refer individuals to the most helpful professional, and suggest self-help treatment options where appropriate.

Course Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. List the three most prevalent forms of depression, major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder and describe their key symptoms
  2. Identify the general symptoms of depression using the WHO International Classification of Disease criteria
  3. Describe the biological, genetic, and environmental causes of depression including the role of neurotransmitters and the HPA axis
  4. Explain how depression presents differently in women, men, the elderly, and children
  5. Describe the major treatment approaches for depression including antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, and ECT
  6. Distinguish between older antidepressant medications (TCAs and MAOIs) and newer medications (SSRIs) in terms of mechanism and side effects
  7. Describe the core beliefs and principles of depression self-help and resilience
  8. Apply course knowledge to analyze a cas

Course Format and Faculty

Course Format:

Online linked resources and lectures that you can use anytime 24/7. One multi-choice test.

Course Developers and Instructors:

R. Klimes, PhD, MPH (Johns Hopkins University) is a scholar and author in health-related research, health behaviors, ethics, end-of-life care, and overall wellness. He has written numerous research reports and books and has held academic and leadership roles in higher education and public health internationally.

Course Time:

About three hours for online study, test taking with course evaluation feedback and certificate printing.