Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that affects how you feel, think, and behave. It can cause persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, hopelessness, and other emotional and physical problems. Depression can interfere with your daily life and make it hard to function at work, school, or home.
There are many types of depression, each with its own symptoms, causes, and treatments. Some of the most common types of depression are:
#Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression, is the most common type of depression. It is characterized by having at least one episode of major depression that lasts for at least two weeks. An episode of major depression involves having five or more of the following symptoms most of the day, nearly every day:
- Depressed mood or feeling sad, empty, or hopeless
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that you used to enjoy
- Significant changes in weight or appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much or too little)
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation (feeling restless or slowed down)
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or a suicide attempt
Major depressive disorder can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or background. The exact causes of major depressive disorder are not fully understood, but they may involve a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Some risk factors for developing major depressive disorder include:
- Having a family history of depression or other mental health conditions
- Experiencing stressful or traumatic life events, such as abuse, loss, divorce, or financial problems
- Having a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or chronic pain
- Having a personality trait that makes you more vulnerable to negative emotions, such as low self-esteem, pessimism, or perfectionism
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress or emotions
Major depressive disorder can be treated with various methods, depending on the severity and preferences of the individual. Some common treatments for major depressive disorder include:
Psychotherapy: This involves talking to a trained mental health professional who can help you understand your thoughts and feelings, identify and change negative patterns of behavior, cope with stress and emotions, and improve your relationships and self-esteem. There are different types of psychotherapy that can be effective for major depressive disorder, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), or psychodynamic therapy.
Antidepressant medication: This involves taking prescribed drugs that can help balance the chemicals in your brain that affect your mood. There are different classes of antidepressants that work in different ways, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or atypical antidepressants. Antidepressants can take several weeks to start working and may cause some side effects, such as nausea, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, or insomnia. You should not stop taking antidepressants without consulting your doctor first.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This involves applying electrical currents to your brain through electrodes attached to your scalp. ECT can induce a brief seizure that can alter the activity of your brain cells and improve your mood. ECT is usually reserved for severe cases of major depressive disorder that do not respond to other treatments. ECT is performed under general anesthesia and may cause some side effects,
such as memory loss, headache, confusion, or nausea.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): This involves placing a coil on your scalp that generates magnetic pulses that stimulate specific areas of your brain that are involved in mood regulation. TMS is a non-invasive and painless procedure that can be done in an outpatient setting. TMS may be an alternative option for people who cannot tolerate antidepressants or ECT. TMS may cause some side effects,
such as scalp discomfort, headache, dizziness, or facial twitching.
#Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
Persistent depressive disorder, also known as dysthymia or chronic depression,
is a type of depression that lasts for at least two years. People with persistent depressive disorder have a depressed mood most of the time, but their symptoms are milder than those of major depressive disorder. However,
persistent depressive disorder can still cause significant impairment in your daily functioning and quality of life.
Some symptoms of persistent depressive disorder include:
- Low mood or feeling sad most of the time
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that you used to enjoy
- Low self-esteem or confidence
- Feeling hopeless or pessimistic about the future
- Difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
- Poor appetite or overeating
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Fatigue or low energy
- Irritability or anger
- Social withdrawal or isolation
The causes of persistent depressive disorder are not well understood, but they may involve a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Some risk factors for developing persistent depressive disorder include:
- Having a family history of depression or other mental health conditions.
- Experiencing chronic stress, trauma, or adversity in childhood or adulthood.
- Having a personality trait that makes you more prone to negative emotions, such as neuroticism, introversion, or dependency
- Having a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or chronic pain.
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress or emotions.
Persistent depressive disorder can be treated with similar methods as major depressive disorder, such as psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, ECT, or TMS. However, people with persistent depressive disorder may need longer-term and more frequent treatment to achieve and maintain remission. Additionally, people with persistent depressive disorder may benefit from other interventions that can enhance their well-being and functioning, such as:
- Lifestyle changes: This involves making healthy choices that can improve your physical and mental health, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and managing stress.
- Social support: This involves seeking and maintaining positive relationships with people who can provide you with emotional and practical support, such as family members, friends, co-workers, or support groups.
- Self-care: This involves taking time to do things that make you happy and relaxed,
such as hobbies, leisure activities, meditation, yoga, or massage.
- Self-help: This involves using resources that can help you cope with your symptoms and challenges,
such as books, websites, apps, podcasts, or online courses.
#Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a type of depression that involves having episodes of both depression and mania. Mania is a state of elevated mood that is opposite to depression. People with bipolar disorder experience mood swings that can range from extreme lows to extreme highs. There are different types of bipolar disorder,
depending on the frequency and severity of the episodes.
Some symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
- Depressive episodes: These are similar to the symptoms of major depressive disorder,
such as depressed mood, loss of interest, changes in appetite and sleep,
fatigue, guilt, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal thoughts.
- Manic episodes: These involve having an abnormally high mood that lasts for at least one week. Some symptoms of mania are:
- Increased energy and activity
- Decreased need for sleep
- Elevated self-esteem or grandiosity
- Racing thoughts or rapid speech
- Distractibility or poor attention
- Impulsivity or risk-taking behavior
- Irritability or aggression
- Psychosis (losing touch with reality)
- Hypomanic episodes: These are similar to manic episodes but less severe and shorter in duration (at least four days). Hypomanic episodes do not cause significant impairment in your daily functioning or require hospitalization. However,
they may still affect your judgment and behavior.
- Mixed episodes: These involve having symptoms of both depression and mania at the same time or alternating rapidly between them. Mixed episodes can be very confusing and distressing for the person experiencing them and those around them.
The causes of bipolar disorder are not fully known,
but they may involve a combination of genetic,
biological,
environmental,
and psychological factors.
Some risk factors for developing bipolar disorder include:
- Having a family history of bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions
- Experiencing stressful or traumatic life events,
such as abuse,
loss,
divorce,
or financial problems
- Having a chronic medical condition,
such as thyroid disease,
migraine,
or epilepsy
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress or emotions
Bipolar disorder can be treated with various methods,
depending on the type and severity of the episodes.
Some common treatments for bipolar disorder include:
- Mood stabilizers: These are medications that can help prevent mood swings and reduce the intensity of manic and depressive episodes. Some examples of mood stabilizers are lithium,
valproate,
carbamazepine,
and lamotrigine.
Mood stabilizers can take several weeks to start working and may cause some side effects,
such as weight gain,
tremor,
nausea,
or rash.
You should not stop taking mood stabilizers without consulting your doctor first.
- Antipsychotics: These are medications that can help treat psychosis and mania. Some examples of antipsychotics are olanzapine,
quetiapine,
risperidone,
and aripiprazole.