Depression is a psychological illness that is often over-diagnosed whenever someone is feeling the slightest bit sad, reports psychiatrist Gordon Parker of the University of New South Wales, based on a 15-year-study that he conducted. He describes the study results and discusses his conclusions and claims in a "British Medical Journal" article. The DSM-IV defined illness--clinical depression--is different from temporary depressed mood which, however, does present symptoms similar those of depressive illness, notes HealthyPlace. Clinical depression is related to chemical imbalances in the body. Depression does not have specific stages; symptoms differ based on the age of the person and her situation, as well as other individual circumstances, says HealthyPlace. But there are indeed ways to diagnose depression, as well as to determine the category of depression a person has.
Causes
No one item causes depression. There are numerous factors that contribute to a person’s illness, though, including psychological, environmental and biological, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Specific factors can include lifestyle, personality and genetic predisposition, says Healthy Holistic Living.
Types of Depression
According to Healthy Holistic Living, there are over six main types of depression. Major depression is the most serious clinical depression diagnosis. It is characterized by severe sadness and a growing lack of interest in events and items in which a person once had great interest.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a category of depression some people experience in the winter, due to a lack of sunlight.
Dysthymic disorder is characterized by relatively mild symptoms of depression experienced consistently for a considerable length of time.
Postpartum depression, which comprises a mixture of depression symptoms, affects women who have recently given birth. The condition affects about 10 percent of new mothers and can last anywhere from a couple weeks to a full year.
Bipolar disorder, sometimes still called manic depression, is characterized by a depressive phase coupled with a manic phase that has alternating periods of highs and lows. These periods can be very subtle or extreme, with high levels of emotion and erratic, impulsive behavior.
Cyclothymic disorder is a form of bipolar disorder in which a person has very subtle mood swings that seem to be in line with their regular emotions. However, these mood swings can become extreme.
Symptoms of Depression
There are four groups of symptoms of depression, according to Healthy Holistic Living. These are feelings, thoughts, behaviors and physical. Feelings include anger, unhappiness, hopelessness, anxiety and helplessness.
Thought-related symptoms include memory loss, indecisiveness, guilt, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of worthlessness and being unwanted, and difficulty concentrating.
In terms of behavior, someone who is depressed often has slow reactions, acts irresponsibly, has an inability to enjoy the things he normally enjoys and neglect his own appearance.
Lastly, physical symptoms can include sleeping problems including insomnia, headaches, stomachaches, loss of energy, changes in appetite, extreme fatigue and loss of sex drive.
