We bring our whole selves into the workplace - the good, the bad, the depressed. If a bout of the "blues" just won't go away, it may be a case of chronic or clinical depression, and it may be time to consider help. Psychiatric treatment is usually advised because the disorder often responds well to medication, or even more alarming, it can be a symptom of another medical problem altogether.

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the U.S., with about 17 million people affected at any given moment. However, it is wise to not dismiss it as the mental health equivalent to the common cold. With early diagnosis and treatment, more than 80 percent of those with this problem can be helped. If ignored or pushed aside in the rush of business, however, it can become chronic and much harder to treat.

Symptoms of depression on the job are:

* Decreased productivity due to problems with concentration, sleep disturbances and irritability

* Increased absenteeism

* More accidents

* Lots of talking about being tired, or aches and pains

* Alcohol and drug abuse

* Outbursts

* Lack of cooperation

There are as many shades of depression as there are individual patients. Some will only experience one bout of extreme sadness due to a major life event, such as a death or divorce; others will experience recurrences. Identifying the cause will help determine the treatment. Sometimes lifestyle changes, such as proper nutrition and exercise, will help. If not, consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist is the way to go.

Both practitioners can guide you through talk therapy, which can help surface the underlying reasons for your state of mind. However, since a psychiatrist is also an M.D., he or she will also be able to prescribe medications. They can also determine if there are any underlying physical issues, such as thyroid disease, which can also contribute to the problem.

Depression is being viewed currently as a disorder that can sometimes include bipolar disorder. Sometimes referred to as manic depression, this involves severe mood swings between mania (which shows itself with outbursts of extreme elation), irritability, excessive chatter, racing thoughts and distraction (resembling an engine stuck in very high idle). While this type of behavior can be a problem on the job, there is medication that can help with the wild mood swings. Psychiatric treatment of depression can be a potent tool for identifying this and other depressive variants.

Supervisors are being trained to recognize the symptoms and advise their employees to seek help, often through Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). After all, depression costs employers around $51 billion a year. The cost of leaving it untreated can be just as devastating to your career.