Clinical depression is the most severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder. It is not the same as depression caused by a loss, such as the death of a loved one, or a medical condition, such as a thyroid disorder. Your doctor may call it major depressive disorder. You can have this type of illness if you feel depressed most of the time on most days of the week.
Not only is depression difficult to endure, it is also a risk factor for heart disease and dementia. Depressive symptoms can occur in adults for many reasons. If you experience cognitive or mood changes that last more than a few weeks, it's a good idea to contact your doctor or see a mental health specialist to help determine possible causes, says Dr. Nancy Donovan, Psychiatry Instructor at Harvard Medical School.
The classic type of depression, major depression, is a state in which a dark mood consumes everything and you lose interest in activities, even those that are usually pleasurable. Symptoms of this type of depression include difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite or weight, loss of energy, and feeling worthless. Thoughts of death or suicide may occur. It is usually treated with psychotherapy and medication.
For some people with severe depression that is not relieved by psychotherapy or antidepressant medications, electroconvulsive therapy may be effective. Formerly called dysthymia, this type of depression refers to low mood that has lasted at least two years but may not reach the intensity of major depression. Many people with this type of depression can function day by day, but they feel depressed or joyless most of the time. Other depressive symptoms may include changes in appetite and sleep, lack of energy, low self-esteem or hopelessness.
Depression is a mood disorder that triggers a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest and problems doing day-to-day activities. Depression can range from mild to very severe and comes in different forms or types. Clinical depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder, is the most severe and severe form of depression. Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder.
Causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and manage daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. The duration of symptoms is shorter, less severe and not as regular and therefore does not fit the criteria for bipolar disorder or major depression. However, women who give birth and struggle with sadness, anxiety, or worry for several weeks or more may have postpartum depression (PPD).
There are several treatment options available and it is worth a try when trying to alleviate symptoms of clinical depression. There are also several risk factors for suicide, including a current or past history of substance abuse, a family history of suicide, and feelings of hopelessness, to name a few. It can be difficult to get the right help because you may feel that there is no hope, but the reality is that even major depression can be treated. You may need to try several different antidepressant medications before you find the one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects.
Even if symptoms are severe, they usually improve with counseling, antidepressant medications, or a combination of both. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a hormone-based cyclical mood disorder, commonly considered a severe and disabling form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms can range from relatively mild (but still disabling) to very severe, so it's helpful to know the variety of conditions and their specific symptoms. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 20 percent of people with depression have episodes so severe that they develop psychotic symptoms.
Some people rule out PMDD as a serious case of PMS, but PMDD can be very serious and can include suicidal thoughts. Several types of psychotherapy (also called “psychotherapy” or, in a less specific form, counseling) can help people with depression. . .
