Depression

While occasional feelings of sadness or low mood are common and tend to resolve over time, depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is distinct. It can manifest in severe symptoms that impact emotions, cognition, and daily functioning, such as sleep, appetite, and work. Depression is an illness that can affect anyone, regardless of demographic factors like age, race, income, or education level. Research indicates that various factors, including genetics, biology, environment, and psychology, contribute to depression. It often co-occurs with other mental disorders and physical illnesses, exacerbating both conditions. Some medications used to treat other illnesses may also produce side effects that worsen depression symptoms.

Different types of depression include:

• Major depression is characterized by persistent depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, significantly impairing daily activities.
• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) involves milder but longer-lasting depressive symptoms, typically lasting at least two years.
• Perinatal depression occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth, known as postpartum depression.
• Seasonal affective disorder: cyclically linked to seasons, often emerging in late fall and winter and remitting in spring and summer.
• Depression with psychotic symptoms: a severe form of depression where individuals experience psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations.