Depression is a serious mental disorder that impairs a patient's mood so much that it interferes with her life. According to the National Institutes of Health, "clinical depression is a mood disorder where the feelings of sadness, loss, anger or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time." In addition, patients can suffer from different forms of depression, depending on what type of symptoms they have. Depression can be treated through therapy and medication, as well as through lifestyle changes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of depression can vary in severity. Some patients may have only mild symptoms, while others can have moderate to severe symptoms. According to the National Institutes of Health, depression symptoms include thoughts of death and suicide, feelings of hopelessness, withdrawal from activities, agitation, restlessness and irritability, difficulty with concentration, inappropriate guilt and self-hate, fatigue and lack of energy, changes in appetite and trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping.
Types of Depression
According to the National Institutes of Health, there are seven common types of depression. Classification of the types of depression is dependent on the symptoms. Patients with major depression have five or more symptoms that last at least two weeks; patients with minor depression, on the other hand, have between two and four symptoms for at least two weeks. Atypical-depression patients experience overeating, oversleeping, feeling weighed down and react strongly to rejection. Dysthmia is a milder form of depression that lasts as long as two years. The last three types of depression---postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and seasonal affective disorder---are due to specific circumstances. Postpartum depression affects mothers after they give birth; however, the National Institutes of Health notes that full postpartum depression is rare. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects some women a week before their period starts, but the depression symptoms go away at the start of menstruation. Seasonal affective disorder is thought to be caused by a lack of sunlight and affects patients during the fall and winter months.
Causes
According to the National Institutes of Health, many situations and conditions can lead to mental depression. These include alcohol or drug abuse, traumatic childhood events, stress, a loved one's death, severe disappointment, hypothyroidism, cancer, hepatitis, nutritional deficits, prolonged pain, sleeping problems and social isolation.
Treatment
Many patients with depression benefit from a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Talk therapy can help identify the cause of depression, as well as other negative behaviors. If nutritional deficits are thought to be the cause of the depression, patients should eat a well-rounded diet with vitamin and folic acid supplements.
Note
While many people can suffer from symptoms of depression, clinical depression needs to be diagnosed by a doctor or psychologist.
