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Medication Guide

About Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

UNDERSTANDING MDD AND ITS IMPACT

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When it comes to depression,
you're not alone

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also called clinical depression, is a chronic mental health condition. It can cause ongoing sadness or loss of interest and may affect how a person feels, thinks, sleeps, and functions each day. For many, symptoms continue even while taking an antidepressant.

around

22

million

americans

live with mdd

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1

in

5

adults

are affected by MDD in their lifetime

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almost

75

%

of people with MDD

also experience

anxiety symptoms associated with their condition

CAPLYTA is not approved for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

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for many people,
antidepressants alone
aren't enough
antidepressants
alone aren't enough

2

out
of

3

people with MDD

don't achieve
adequate relief

from their first antidepressant alone

Still feeling the lows?
it's time to talk about it

Even on an antidepressant, many people may still struggle with depression symptoms like:

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Weight loss or gain (due to changes in how much you eat)
Depressed mood most of the day
Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much

Feeling irritated easily
Fatigue or loss of energy
Difficulty thinking, concentrating, and making decisions
Thoughts of harming yourself

real stories
of MDD

Watch Matt share his experience about living with MDD.

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Hear Matt's Story:

Chasing the Light

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The person featured in this video is sharing his individual experiences living with major depressive disorder (MDD).

He has been compensated for his time.

Individual experiences with the condition and treatment will vary. This resource is brought to you by Johnson & Johnson.

(Matt)

Living with major depressive disorder for me is like living in a thick black cloud. It consumes every part of my life when triggered.

I can go a few days at a time feeling this way, not wanting to eat and not doing anything for myself.

Meditation helps me. It gives me time to reflect on old memories. Dark or light, they brought me to where I am today.

I had a rough childhood.

I was bullied at school, and my home life was hard. All of this coupled with my negative thoughts made me feel like I was worthless.

It wasn't until my twenties that I realized how much I had really struggled.

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Matt

Patient Advocate with Major Depressive Disorder

(Matt)

Unfortunately, I found that adulthood wasn't much easier.

After a divorce, I suddenly became a single dad. On top of that, I was in college trying to manage my classes.

My twin baby girls were my world, but juggling my education and being there for my children was beyond a balancing act.

It felt like I didn't have time to manage my feelings of depression.

Between low self-esteem, and pervasive negative thoughts, I knew something was off.

I was putting on a happy face for everyone else. At night, it was difficult to shut down my negative thoughts and get to sleep.

I wrestled with the thought of not being here anymore but woke up each morning focusing on my kids and goals.

Exercising became a way for me to cope with what I was feeling. Moving my body made me focus on my goals and myself.

At the time, I felt like I was helping everyone else except myself. I was helping my family, peers, and boss… but not really focusing on what I needed.

But I knew workouts weren't enough to cope with my feelings.

Around that time, my best friend sat me down and talked to me about their concerns, saying that they thought I might have depression.

It was a turning point. Someone saw me, recognized my pain, and wanted to help me seek care.

I went to a therapist and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, also known as MDD. I was almost relieved to have a name for what I was experiencing, but I was frustrated because the support that I could find was minimal at that time.

I was so alone, mentally, physically and emotionally. I needed human connection and a path forward.

I worked with a healthcare provider and tried different antidepressants, but they didn't give me the relief I needed. I wanted to find what worked for me.

I really advocated for myself because it wasn't just about me. It was my future and striving for a happier life.

At this point, I was remarried and had five children. I had lost friendships, from becoming emotionally distant during my depression. And I had almost lost my current wife.

I couldn't lose her or our kids; I had to find lasting answers.

Finally, I met a psychiatric nurse practitioner who really listened to me, and we clicked. My healthcare provider and I talked about how to manage my depression, and I started seeing her on a regular basis. That one-on-one time with someone who was truly listening meant everything to me. I really valued that time. My doctor and I made strides towards a healthier future. Adding to my treatment plan has helped me find significant relief of my depression symptoms.

Not every day is perfect but I'm able to manage my MDD effectively.

It didn't feel like I was just putting on “a happy face” anymore. It was my own face, and even though not all days were great, I still felt more like myself. This is just my experience living with and treating MDD, and yours may be different.

It was enlightening.

She encouraged me to continue exercising and to start eating a bit healthier.

I also put time into learning more about MDD. From articles and podcasts, to reading books, I wanted to know everything I could.

Every decision I made to better myself was also a decision for my family. Throughout my journey they've supported me, loved me, and have had my back.

Getting diagnosed and getting treatment inspired me to give back.

I decided to use my career as an opportunity to help children struggling with various mental health conditions. Reflecting now, I think a lot of my struggles started in childhood and I wanted to be a resource for kids who needed help.

In a way, helping them, helped me cope with my past and emotionally heal in a lot of ways.

It's important to me because I don't want anyone to wait as long as I had to for a diagnosis.

If you're facing MDD, know that there are resources and support groups.

Getting diagnosed was just the beginning for me. I had to stick it out until I found a treatment that fit my needs. Through the light and dark moments, stability can be possible. It's important that you work with your doctor to find a treatment plan that works for you.

Work with your doctor to find your light.

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© Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates 2025. Trademarks listed are the property of their respective owners. 08/25 US-UNB-2500046 cp-590177v1

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Hear Jade’s Story:

The Sound of Calm

(ON SCREEN TEXT)

The person featured in this video is sharing her individual experiences living with major depressive disorder (MDD).

She has been compensated for her time.

Individual experiences with the condition and treatment will vary. This resource is brought to you by Johnson & Johnson.

(Jade)

With depression, the silence is loud.

It's one of the loudest things you can hear.

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Jade

Patient Advocate with Major Depressive Disorder

(Jade)

I remember days going by where I was alone, not interacting with anyone or anything.

I was always quiet as a kid, but when I got to college, I felt beyond lonely and isolated.

It just felt like my world was getting smaller and smaller.

I would wrap myself up in a blanket and try to block everything out.

I didn't tell anyone how I was feeling, not even the few friends I did have.

I was skipping classes, and seemingly, my life. I knew I needed help, but I was afraid to ask for support.

In my mind, getting counseling meant fixing the failing.

Growing up, my parents said that the ability to work hard was the most important skill that they could teach me. That formed my self-worth a lot.

I had always been a hard worker, getting good grades in school, and doing my best to impress my parents, but at this time, I was flunking school, and I couldn't tell my family.

I knew depression ran in my family, and I didn't want to see failure in myself. So, I decided to reach out to a college counselor at my school. A psychiatrist through my university's health services diagnosed me with major depressive disorder, also known as MDD.

My psychiatrist helped me make adjustments to my treatment when certain medications didn't work well for me. I didn't know it at the time, but this was the first step in a long journey of trialing different antidepressants.

I also started gardening as a form of self-therapy.

Being outside made me feel happy, and I liked to work hard and see the fruits of my labor.

At first, it felt like the treatment was working for me.

It felt like it was managed with self-care and medication, but the depression never went away. Even though I felt like I was managing my depression, it was still there.

Despite having some of my symptoms under control, my MDD was a major factor in my decision to leave school in my junior year of college. The depression persisted through my 20s, but I continued to try to manage it. So, I carried on, and I was able to get a great job. I was even traveling and living internationally. I got married and was hopeful for the future.

But then my depression symptoms got worse.

The wave of depression hit again. I found myself withdrawing from everyone around me. I didn't want to get out of bed or do anything for myself. I needed to take time off from work, and my relationship with my husband was struggling, too. It was a low point, and I knew I had to find a long-term solution that could help me. I was scared the waves of depression symptoms would keep coming back throughout my life when I least expected it.

After moving back to the United States, I ended up losing my job as my mental health continued to decline.

I was able to connect with a provider who understood MDD. I felt like he understood me, too. I told him that activities really helped me. He worked with me on my treatment plan and encouraged me to take up hobbies.

After 16 years and numerous treatments, it felt like I was starting fresh again, back up and going. Doing activities again made me feel good about myself, too. I was focused on what I was creating and who I wanted to be again.

I've been with this provider for a while now. It was important to find someone that I could trust. Advocating for myself brought me to him, but it also brought me to the version of myself that I wanted to be.

This is just my experience living with MDD, and yours may be different.

Not all days are great.

Sometimes even now I struggle, but I'm pushing forward.

I am pushing forward for myself and for my husband.

I work on staying active, engaging in my hobbies, nurturing my relationships, and simply getting out to enjoy more of the world.

It feels good to know I'm not alone on this journey. I'm part of a bigger community that supports and loves me. And, with the support of my psychiatrist, I became more open about my diagnosis, and that really helped me with family and working relationships.

It's important that you work with your healthcare provider to find a treatment plan that works for you. You don't have to be alone in your diagnosis. There are resources out there that can help you. Work with your doctor to find what can help bring you that light.

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[Johnson & Johnson logo]

© Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates 2025. Third party trademarks listed are the property of their respective owners. 12/25 US-UNB-2500112 cp-590178v1

Follow Jade as she opens up
about her journey with MDD.

when depression
symptoms
stick around,
it might be time to try
something different

Clinical guidelines recommend that an add-on treatment may be appropriate if your depression symptoms remain.

how does
depression work?

Depression is a complex condition that involves changes in the way certain brain chemicals, also known as neurotransmitters, and pathways work in the brain—especially those linked to mood, motivation, and emotional balance.

Medications are thought to help by increasing levels of some of these brain chemicals. But that is just one piece of the puzzle that may help improve mood.

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