An Overview of Depression
An Overview of Depression
Sometimes physical problems can cause depression. But other times, symptoms of depression are part of a more complex psychiatric problem. There are several different types of depression, including:
An individual with major depression, or major depressive disorder, feels a profound and constant sense of hopelessness and despair.
Major depression is marked by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the person's ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Major depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.
Symptoms of depression include:
Roughly 25% of people who are admitted to the hospital for depression suffer from what is called psychotic depression. In addition to the symptoms of depression, people with psychotic depression may have:
While people with other mental disorders, like schizophrenia, also experience these symptoms, people with psychotic depression typically have symptoms that reflect the despair and negativism of depression, such as profound feelings of hopelessness, being punished, or having committed a sin. People also may be ashamed or embarrassed and try to hide their psychotic symptoms, or minimize their intensity, which can make diagnosing this condition difficult.
Dysthymia, sometimes referred to as a form of chronic depression, is a less severe form of depression but the depression symptoms linger for a long period of time, typically years. Those who suffer from dysthymia are usually able to function normally, but seem consistently unhappy.
It is common for a person with dysthymia to also experience major depression at the same time, swinging into a major depressive episode and then back to a more mild state of dysthymia. This is called double depression.
- Major depressive disorder
- Dysthymia and chronic depression (now called persistent depressive disorder)
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Psychotic depression
- Bipolardepression
Major Depression
An individual with major depression, or major depressive disorder, feels a profound and constant sense of hopelessness and despair.
Major depression is marked by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the person's ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Major depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.
What Are the Symptoms of Major Depression?
Symptoms of depression include:
- Sadness
- Irritability
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Inability to concentrate
- Disrupted sleep
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Appetite changes
- Thoughts of suicide
Psychotic Depression
Roughly 25% of people who are admitted to the hospital for depression suffer from what is called psychotic depression. In addition to the symptoms of depression, people with psychotic depression may have:
- Hallucinations -- seeing or hearing things that aren't really there.
- Delusions -- irrational thoughts and fears.
How Is Psychotic Depression Different Than Other Mental Disorders?
While people with other mental disorders, like schizophrenia, also experience these symptoms, people with psychotic depression typically have symptoms that reflect the despair and negativism of depression, such as profound feelings of hopelessness, being punished, or having committed a sin. People also may be ashamed or embarrassed and try to hide their psychotic symptoms, or minimize their intensity, which can make diagnosing this condition difficult.
What Are the Symptoms of Psychotic Depression?
- Anxiety -- fear and nervousness
- Agitation
- Paranoia
- Insomnia -- difficulty falling and staying asleep
- Physical immobility
- Intellectual impairment
- Hallucinations (false perceptions)
- Delusions (fixed, false beliefs)
Dysthymia
Dysthymia, sometimes referred to as a form of chronic depression, is a less severe form of depression but the depression symptoms linger for a long period of time, typically years. Those who suffer from dysthymia are usually able to function normally, but seem consistently unhappy.
It is common for a person with dysthymia to also experience major depression at the same time, swinging into a major depressive episode and then back to a more mild state of dysthymia. This is called double depression.
