During any given two-week time period, about 5.4 percent of Americans older than age 12 suffers from depression, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to strong feelings of sadness and anxiety, depression can affect other areas of your mental health and may even manifest itself physically. According to James Loree, LMSW, a private practice psychotherapist based in Lansing, Mich., depression is a general term and can occur under a variety of circumstances. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) identifies three classifications of depressive disorders.
Major Depressive Disorder, Single and Recurrent
Major depressive disorder symptoms are not the same as feeling grief or other normal reactions to events in life. This classification of depression interferes with quality of life, causing difficulty in the performance of daily routines or making it hard to find pleasure in activities you once enjoyed. Other symptoms may include trouble sleeping, poor appetite, unexplained aches/pains, difficulty concentrating and feelings of irritability, hopelessness or anxiety. You may only experience one episode of major depression, but the National Institute for Mental Health, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, warns that the condition tends to recur throughout a person's life.
Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymic disorder, also known as dysthymia, is classified as a mild chronic form of depression that typically lasts two years or more. Although symptoms are less severe and/or disabling than with major depression, they can prevent you from functioning normally or feeling well. Dysthymia can also be accompanied by episodes of major depression; this combination is sometimes referred to as double depression.
Not Otherwise Specified Depressive Disorders
The criteria used to diagnose depression has led to debate over classification of other depressive disorders. Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is characterized by highs and lows in the mood cycle. This includes extreme elevated manic states followed by episodes of depression.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression that occurs during the winter months due to a lack of exposure to natural sunlight. Those suffering from SAD experience some of the same symptoms as major depression, but they usually subside during spring and summer months.
According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), postpartum depression affects 10 percent of mothers in the first few months after childbirth. Signs of postpartum depression include strong feelings of depression and anger, interference caring for self and baby, appetite changes, lack of interest in activities, strong concern or lack of concern about the baby, anxiety, panic attacks or fears about harming the baby or herself.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: Forms of Depression
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: NCHS Databrief
- James Loree, LMSW, ACSW, CAAC. Private practice psychotherapist; Lansing, Michigan.
- NetDoctor: Classification of Depression
