What is major or clinical depression?

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a condition characterized by signs and symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy activities that are once pleasurable. Depression is common and often goes undiagnosed, because the onset of the first episode of major depression may not be evident if it is gradual or mild.

According to DSM-IV – a manual used to diagnose mental health conditions. For a major depressive episode, a person must have experienced at least five of the nine symptoms below for the same two or more weeks, almost all of the time at a time. Today, this is a change from his previous level of performance. One of the symptoms must be either (a) depressed mood, or (b) loss of interest.

a. depressed mood. For children and teens, this can be a nervous mood.

B. Significantly decreased level of interest or pleasure in most or all activities.

c. Significant weight loss or gain (eg, weight change of 5% or more in a month when not dieting). This may also be an increase or decrease in appetite. For children, they may not gain the expected amount of weight.

Dr.. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia) or sleeping more than usual (hypersomnia).

H. Agitated or slow behavior. Others should be able to notice this.

F. Feeling tired or lacking in energy.

g. Worthless thoughts or extreme guilt (not about illness).

h. Decreased ability to think, focus, or make decisions.

I. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (with or without a specific plan), or attempted suicide.

To be considered major depression:

The symptoms you feel are not due to a mixed episode — the simultaneous mania and depression that can occur in bipolar disorder

Symptoms must be severe enough to cause noticeable problems with daily activities, such as work, school, social activities, or relationships with others

Symptoms are not due to the direct effects of something else, such as drug use, medication, or a medical condition such as hypothyroidism

The symptoms are not caused by grief, such as temporary grief after the loss of a loved one

treatment

Although major depression is a serious mental disorder that deeply affects an individual’s quality of life. It is very treatable. Many types of treatment are available. Medication and psychotherapy are very effective for most people. Some studies have shown that treatment with antidepressant drugs combined with psychotherapy has better results than treatment alone.

pharmaceutical

Medications include:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)

Atypical antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Psychotherapy

There are several types of psychotherapy that have been shown to be effective in treating depression, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you identify negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on the context of interpersonal relationships and building interpersonal skills.