Major Depressive Disorder

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To be diagnosed with major depressive disorder — sometimes called clinical depression or simply depression, or by its abbreviation, MDD — you have to experience several distinct symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks Right up arrow

 

One of those symptoms needs to be persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness, or a loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, such as work, hobbies, seeing friends — even food and sex.

 

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), you also need to experience at least four of the following symptoms (or three if you have both of the symptoms above):

1. a) Significant changes in appetite — weight loss or gain not related to dieting
2. b) Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or oversleeping (hypersomnia)
3. c) Increased restlessness — or the opposite, moving more slowly
4. d) Fatigue, tiredness, or loss of energy that makes even simple tasks, such as dressing or washing, difficult
5. e) Feeling worthless or inappropriately guilty, such as constantly thinking about past mistakes
6. f) Difficulty thinking clearly, concentrating, or making decisions
7. g) Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (without or without a specific plan), or a suicide attempt.

Is Depression treatable?

Ans: Depression is one of the most treatable illnesses.

 

The goal of treating depression is remission — when people return to their selves and level of functioning as they were before the illness — not just improving symptoms.

“You have to get rid of every symptom because even if you have one residual symptom, your risk of getting depressed again increases, and it’s almost inevitable.”

Treating depression is not a one-size-fits-all approach and can depend on your biology, medical background, and family history, among other factors.

Here are a few common strategies to treat depression:

a) Antidepressants are medications prescribed for those with moderate-to-severe symptoms of major depressive disorder.

b) Augmentation is when other medications are added to the antidepressant to achieve a more significant impact when the antidepressant alone has not provided a complete remission.

c) Psychotherapy is a form of treatment in which practitioners learn about the conditions, moods, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of a person. This strategy focuses on training the brain to adapt to negative feelings or emotions.

d)Cognitive behavioral therapy is among the most common evidence-based forms of psychotherapy that focuses on patients’ present thoughts, behaviors, and ways of communicating rather than on past experiences. It teaches problem-solving as a solution

Different types of depression

There are different types of depression. Some common types of depression are:

1. a) Major Depressive Disorder: This is the most common type of depression people face. It refers to when depressive symptoms last for more than two weeks.
2. b) Chronic Depression or Persistent Depressive Disorder: This form of depression lasts longer and is diagnosed when someone’s been experiencing symptoms most days for at least two years.
3. c)Bipolar Disorder: People who experience this condition experience moods that can shift significantly. They can experience periods of depression for weeks, followed by periods of mania (a significantly elevated mood). To learn more about bipolar disorder, click here.
4. d) Seasonal Depression: This form of depression is where feelings of sadness and tiredness can occur in yearly cycles depending on the weather patterns around them. Usually, it will affect people during winter months, and lift during spring and summer. It’s more common in cold climates which experience less daylight during winter months.

Does anxiety and depression the same?

Ans: Anxiety and depression disorders are closely related. Nearly 50% of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorsadness.

Is Depression Different from Sadness?

Ans: Depression is different from Sadness

We’ve all heard someone say that they’re depressed. This is sometimes after a major event or even for the smallest of things. The important thing to know is that depression is not the same as being sad. For instance, your favorite TV show gets canceled or you find out someone is talking about you behind your back, and it makes you sad. These are not examples of depression.

Sadness is an unhappy mood. Depression has many symptoms. Here are a few that showcase how depression differs from sadness.

1. a)Trouble with memory, concentration, or decision-making
2. b)Changes in sleep patterns, weight, and appetite
3. c)Excessive fatigue or lack of energy
4. d)Decrease in libido
5. e)Little interest in favorite activities
6. f)Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or anxiety
7. g)Physical symptoms like aches and pains or headaches, or others that do not disappear with normal treatment
8. h)Restlessness and irritability
9. i) A feeling of emptiness or persistent sadness

Can depression lead to other health issues?

Ans: Depression Can Lead to Other Health Issues. Along with the other issues caused by depression, it can lead to many health problems. For example, those with depression are more apt to develop cardiovascular disease by two to three times the normal rate. Even more shocking is that those with depression who get cardiovascular disease have a greater chance of death than those without depression.

There are theories for why this happens. One such theory is it’s because of the imbalance created in the autonomic nervous system. This is the system regulating functions in the body, including heart rhythm.