. Depression. A young man leans on the side of his armchair, looking downcast. Most people experience the symptoms of mild depression, such as excessive sadness or despair, at some point in life. The condition is not classed as a serious psychiatric illness, however, unless the patient's behaviour or physical state is affected, causing loss of sleep or appetite, for example. Treatment for severe depression includes psycho- therapy and antidepressant drugs, and is usually very successful. MODEL RELEASED