The severity of depression ranges from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe and persistent depression. Clinical depression is the most severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder. Your doctor may call it major depressive disorder. You can have this type of illness if you feel depressed most of the time on most days of the week.
Persistent depressive disorder is depression that lasts 2 years or more. People may also refer to this as dysthymia or chronic depression. Persistent depression may not feel as intense as major depression, but it can still strain relationships and make daily tasks difficult. Not only is depression difficult to endure, it is also a risk factor for heart disease and dementia.
Depressive symptoms can occur in adults for many reasons. If you experience cognitive or mood changes that last more than a few weeks, it's a good idea to contact your doctor or see a mental health specialist to help determine possible causes, says Dr. Nancy Donovan, Psychiatry Instructor at Harvard Medical School. The classic type of depression, major depression, is a state in which a dark mood consumes everything and you lose interest in activities, even those that are usually pleasurable.
Symptoms of this type of depression include difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite or weight, loss of energy, and feeling worthless. Thoughts of death or suicide may occur. It is usually treated with psychotherapy and medication. For some people with severe depression that is not relieved by psychotherapy or antidepressant medications, electroconvulsive therapy may be effective.
Formerly called dysthymia, this type of depression refers to low mood that has lasted at least two years but may not reach the intensity of major depression. Many people with this type of depression can function day by day, but they feel depressed or joyless most of the time. Other depressive symptoms may include changes in appetite and sleep, lack of energy, low self-esteem or hopelessness. If you or someone you love is 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.
From a medical point of view, depression is defined as a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of depression or sadness and the often profound loss of interest in things that usually bring you pleasure. 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. May be mild, moderate or severe 1 According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1.5% of adults in the United States had persistent depressive disorder in the past year. The disorder affects women (1.9 per cent) more than men (1 per cent), and researchers estimate that about 1.3 per cent of all EE,.
Adults will have the disorder at some point in their lives. Among the most common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are irritability, fatigue, anxiety, bad mood, bloating, increased appetite, food cravings, pain and tenderness in the breasts. If you experience depression, sleepiness, and weight gain during the winter months, but feel perfectly well in spring, you may have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) ,1 currently called major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern. Prevalence rates for SAD can be difficult to determine because the condition is often not diagnosed or reported.
It is more common in areas further away from the equator. For example, estimates suggest that APR affects 1% of Florida's population; that figure rises to 9% in Alaska. Send us a confidential message or call 713-660-1100. Gaining a deeper understanding of the different types of depression can help you get started on the path to diagnosis and recovery.
While most people feel sad at some points in their lives, major depression occurs when a person is depressed most of the day, almost every day, for at least two weeks. You can have this type of depression if you have five or more of the following symptoms most days for 2 weeks or more:. This is the term used to describe a severe form of depression in which many of the physical symptoms of depression are present. Sometimes, they may also recommend an older type of antidepressant called MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitor), which is a class of antidepressants that has been well studied to treat atypical depression.
Currently classified as peripartum onset depression, postpartum depression (PPD) is more than just “postpartum melancholy.”. Traditional antidepressants are not always recommended as first-line treatments for bipolar depression because there is no evidence that these drugs are more useful than a placebo (a sugar pill) for treating depression in people with bipolar disorder. Several types of psychotherapy (also called “psychotherapy” or, in a less specific form, counseling) can help people with depression. Bipolar disorder used to be known as “manic depression” because the person experiences periods of depression and periods of mania, with periods of normal mood between them.
Atypical depression is different from the persistent sadness or hopelessness that characterizes major depression. Although the exact causes of major depression are unknown, some risk factors include a family history of depression and major life events, such as trauma, moments of high stress, loss of a job or relationship, or the death of a loved one. However, some providers still refer to this phenomenon as depressive psychosis or psychotic depression. The DSM-5 definition of depression states that if a person experiences these symptoms over a two-week period, the individual is experiencing a depressive episode.
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