Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by a number of key features: 1 Depressed mood 2 Lack of interest in activities normally enjoyed 3 Changes in weight 4 Changes in sleep 5 Fatigue 6 Feelings of worthlessness and guilt 7 Difficulty concentrating 8 Thoughts of death and suicide
Physical Examination. No physical findings are specific to major depressive disorder; instead, the diagnosis is based on the history and the mental status examination. Nevertheless, a complete mental health evaluation should always include a medical evaluation to rule out organic conditions that might imitate a depressive disorder.
Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.
There are many different causes of depression, some of which we don't fully understand. Seven of the more common types of depression include the following.
In order to diagnose someone with Major Depression, they must have had at least one Major Depressive Episode (in which they suffer from depressed mood, or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities) for at least two weeks.
Major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder are two of the most common types of depression that people experience, however, there are many types of depression. What most mood disorders have in common are major depressive episodes. This is also true of bipolar disorder, another type of mood disorder.
Causes - Clinical depressionStressful events. Most people take time to come to terms with stressful events, such as bereavement or a relationship breakdown. ... Personality. ... Family history. ... Giving birth. ... Loneliness. ... Alcohol and drugs. ... Illness.
During these episodes, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day and may include: Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness. Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters. Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports.
Getting to Know the Stages of DepressionStage 1: Origin. Depression can have countless origins, depending on the individual situation. ... Stage 2: Establishment. ... Stage 3: Lack of Interest in Activities You Once Loved. ... Stage 4: Lack of Interest or Abandonment of Obligatory Activities.
Types of DepressionMajor Depression.Persistent Depressive Disorder.Bipolar Disorder.Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Psychotic Depression.Peripartum (Postpartum) Depression.Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)'Situational' Depression.More items...•
Major depression is most likely to affect people between the ages of 45 and 65. “People in middle age are at the top of the bell curve for depression, but the people at each end of the curve, the very young and very old, may be at higher risk for severe depression,” says Walch.
The biological factors that might have some effect on depression include: genes, hormones, and brain chemicals. Depression often runs in families, which suggests that individuals may inherit genes that make them vulnerable to developing depression.
The chemical imbalance theory suggests that depression results from changing levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. The most common evidence used to support the chemical imbalance theory is the effectiveness of antidepressant medications.
Depression can occur at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime.
5 Most common signs of depressionPersistent depressed (low) mood. It's natural to feel down from time to time. ... Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed. Sometimes we lose interest in things we used to love. ... Feelings of worthlessness. ... Poor concentration. ... Thoughts of harming yourself.
A) Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Examples of other types of depressive disorders newly added to the diagnostic classification of DSM-5 include disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (diagnosed in children and adolescents) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia) is a depressed mood that lasts for at least two years. A person diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder.
The psychotic symptoms typically have a depressive “theme,” such as delusions of guilt, poverty, or illness. Seasonal affective disorder is characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. This depression generally lifts during spring and summer.
Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress. You may need to try several different antidepressant medicines before finding the one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects.
It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.
Teen Depression: This flier for teens describes depression and how it differs from regular sadness. It also describes symptoms, causes, and treatments, with information on getting help and coping. Shareable Resources on Depression: Help support depression awareness and education in your community.
Examples of evidence-based approaches specific to the treatment of depression include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and problem-solving therapy. More information on psychotherapy is available on the NIMH Psychotherapies webpage.
These are the most common signs and symptoms associated with major depressive disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health: 3 . Persistent sadness, anxious, or “empty” mood. Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism. Irritability. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness.
According to 2017 statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 7.1% of adults in the United States—roughly 17.3 million—had at least one major depressive episode. Women were more likely to be affected than men (8.7% versus 5.3% respectively). 2 .
Peripartum Depression. This type of major depressive disorder is more commonly known as postpartum depression. It is a major depressive disorder that occurs during pregnancy or after birth. It’s quite common, with an estimated 3% to 6% of mothers experiencing the condition. 1 It is associated with stress, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, despair, ...
Major depressive disorder can disrupt nearly every facet of your daily life, including your ability to sleep and wake up, eat, communicate, work, maintain healthy relationships, and care for yourself and your loved ones.
This form of major depressive disorder is indicative of intense loss of pleasure in activities, along with hopelessness, to the point where a person may even feel that their life is not worth living. Like other subtypes, a patient may experience prolonged sadness, anxiety, lack of sleep, as well as changes in their body movement.
Diagnosis. Causes. Treatment. Coping. Depression is a common and serious mood disorder that impacts the way an individual feels, thinks, and acts on a daily basis. It also goes by the name major depressive disorder (MDD), or clinical depression.
Multiple factors play a role in depression, which the APA categorizes as biochemical, genetic, personality, and environmental. 11 These risk factors frequently intersect and can predispose a person to MDD: Genetics: A family history of depression is common in those suffering from the condition.
Children with major depressive disorder may also present with initially misleading symptoms such as irritability, decline in school performance, or social withdrawal. Elderly persons may present with confusion or a general decline in functioning;
To meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria [ 2] for major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, depression should be present only at a specific time of year (e.g., in the fall or winter) and full remission occurs at a characteristic time of year (e.g., spring).
Dysphoric mood. A dysphoric mood state may be expressed by patients as sadness, heaviness, numbness, or sometimes irritability and mood swings. They often report a loss of interest or pleasure in their usual activities, difficulty concentrating, or loss of energy and motivation.
Diagnosing seasonal affective disorder in children is difficult because they experience the recurrent universal stressor of beginning school every autumn.
Patients with major depressive disorder may not initially present with a complaint of low mood, anhedonia, or other typical symptoms. In the primary care setting, where many of these patients first seek treatment, the presenting complaints often can be somatic (e.g., fatigue, headache, abdominal distress, or change in weight).
Mood-incongruent psychoses are not consistent with these typical themes but may also occur in depression. Major depressive disorder with psychotic features is considered a psychiatric emergency. Patients may require psychiatric hospitalization.
No physical findings are specific to major depressive disorder; instead, the diagnosis is based on the history and the mental status examination. Nevertheless, a complete mental health evaluation should always include a medical evaluation to rule out organic conditions that might imitate a depressive disorder.
From a medical standpoint, depression is defined as a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of depressed mood or sadness and the often profound loss of interest in things that usually bring you pleasure.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) Dysthymia, now known as persistent depressive disorder, refers to a type of chronic depression present for more days than not for at least two years. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. 1 . People might experience brief periods of not feeling depressed, but this relief of symptoms lasts for two months or less.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) When people use the term clinical depression, they are generally referring to major depressive disorder (MDD). 1 Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by a number of key features: Depressed mood. Lack of interest in activities normally enjoyed. Changes in weight. Changes in sleep.
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
In addition to depressed mood and markedly diminished interest in activities, people with depression often have a range of physical and emotional symptoms which may include: 1 . Fatigue, insomnia, and lethargy. Unexplained aches, pains, and psychomotor agitation. Hopelessness and loss of self-esteem.
Depression affects how you feel, think, and behave and can interfere with your ability to function and carry on with daily life. There are many different causes of depression, some of which we don't fully understand. Seven of the more common types of depression include the following. 4:33.
Pregnancy can bring about significant hormonal shifts that can often affect a woman's moods. Depression can have its onset during pregnancy or following the birth of a child. Currently classified as depression with peripartum onset, postpartum depression (PPD) is more than that just the "baby blues.". 1 .