Symptoms | Causes | Diagnostic Criteria | Treatments

Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and apathy. The essential feature of this condition is a period of at least 2 weeks during which there is either depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities, according to the DSM-5.

Someone suffering from depression may find it nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning due to lethargy, apathy, and a feeling of hopelessness. Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental diseases in the U.S. In 2017, approx. 7.1% of Americans over the age of 18 had an episode of major depressive disorder.

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Besides the more observable symptoms of major depressive disorder (i.e. isolation, moodiness, weight loss, etc.), suicidal ideation is another very prevalent occurrence with those suffering from this illness. In fact, suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people. A major cause of suicide is mental illness, very commonly depression. You can be diagnosed at a dual diagnosis treatment center, and begin your journey toward a happier state.

If you have attempted suicide or you think about suicide, then you can reach out for help by contacting the Suicide Prevention Lifeline or by calling 800-273-8255.

Not all depressive disorders are created equally. Some common forms of depression include seasonal affective disorder (SAD), psychotic depression, postpartum depression (“baby blues”), persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder to name a handful.

Each of these depressive disorders have their own distinct symptoms that vary from one another. However, what doesn’t vary with these disorders are the main symptoms of depression, such as sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness.

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Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder

Some common symptoms of depression include loss of interest in things once loved, loss of appetite, and a lack of energy. They may feel as though their life has no purpose and that everything is meaningless. Below, you will see some of the most common symptoms of major depressive disorder:

• Deep sadness
• Lack of energy
• Loss of interest in things once loved
• Hopelessness
• Apathetic toward most things
• Suicidal ideation
• Loss of appetite
• Lack of motivation

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Causes of Major Depressive Disorder

Temperamental, environmental, genetic & physiological factors are all likely to play key roles in the development of this mental illness. Individuals with a family history of depression may be at a higher risk for developing it themselves.

According to Mayo Clinic, biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones, and inherited traits may all be factors for someone developing depression. Depression often begins during the teenage years, 20’s or 30’s. However, it can develop at any age. Interestingly, more women than men are diagnosed with depression. However, this may be due in part because women are typically more likely to seek out treatment as opposed to men.

Diagnostic Criteria

To get diagnosed with major depressive disorder, one must undergo a psychiatric evaluation by a licensed mental health professional. This will often entail asking the patient numerous questions to better understand their family history, current symptoms, as well as the severity of those symptoms.

Some of the specific criteria for getting diagnosed with major depression, according to the DSM-5, are as follows:

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observation made by others.
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

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Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder

Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for depression. Talk therapy and medication can be very effective at helping to treat the symptoms of this illness. Group therapy, psychotherapy, medication therapy and even light therapy may be able to significantly help improve symptoms.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), antidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, and Wellbutrin are just a handful of many drugs that may be able to help treat depression. Antidepressants take time to work before you will feel the true benefits of them. Usually, it will take around 2 to 4 weeks before you can expect to feel the full effects of the medication.

Exercising for depression is another very effective way to help treat major depressive disorder. “In people who are depressed, neuroscientists have noticed that the hippocampus in the brain—the region that helps regulate mood—is smaller. Exercise supports nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, improving nerve cell connections, which helps relieve depression,” explains Dr. Miller.

If you think you may be suffering from some of the symptoms of this condition, then you may benefit from therapy. Feel free to reach out to your doctor or local mental health clinic to see what your available options are and to see if there is any sort of discount or promo code available to help you with the costs of treatment, as well as if your health insurance will cover treatment costs.

References

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007

• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/

• https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression

• https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/depression/

• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression

• https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression

• https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm

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