Clinical Depression: a disease like any other. Clinical depression is defined as "a mood or emotional state that is marked by sadness, inactivity and a reduced ability to enjoy life"(2:21). Depression is very different from the blues that people feel at one time or another. It is an illness, the same way that cancer or diabetes are illnesses. Depression affects the entire body and not just the mind. In most cases, it can be successfully treated. This disease affects all ages, all races, all economic groups and both gender. Depression is o ....