Get to know common signs and symptoms of depression so that you or a loved one can get help managing this mental health condition.
A common and serious mood disorder, depression can impair quality of life and lead to disability, particularly in cases that are more severe or long-lasting. Worldwide, it affects over 300 million people, according to the World Health Organization. It affects people of all ages, with women experiencing it twice as often as men.
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One in fifteen adults are thought to experience depression or at least one major depressive episode in a given year. Many facets of a person’s life can be impacted by a mood disorder, including managing daily tasks, working, and preserving relationships. In its worst case, depression can result in self-harm.
What is clinical depression (Major depressive disorder)?
A persistently low or depressed mood and a loss of interest or pleasure are hallmarks of clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder. For a diagnosis of it to be made, symptoms need to be more than just transient melancholy and persist for at least two weeks. At least five of the nine cardinal symptoms listed below must occur during the two-week period, and the symptoms must differ from previous functioning.
“It’s different than when somebody says colloquially, ‘Oh, I feel depressed because the Dodgers lost their baseball game,” says Dr. David Merrill, an adult and geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California. Rather, the feelings are persistent. While it is often first diagnosed in adolescents and adults, it can occur at any age
Symptoms of depression: signs to look for
Symptoms for major depressive disorder can be mild to severe and may include:
- Feeling sad, hopeless or despondent.
- Loss of pleasure or interest in things you once enjoyed.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Loss of energy or fatigue.
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
- Significant fluctuations in weight or appetite.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Agitation or restlessness.
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Signs of depression among different groups
It’s hard to generalize symptoms across different populations, as it symptoms can vary largely from person to person. However, here are common ways in which it may manifest across some groups:
- Children and teenagers.
- Men and women.
- Senior citizens.
Types of depression
In addition to major depression, or major depressive disorder, there are a number of other types of it.
The National Institute of Mental Health lists several examples:
- Depression that is persistent.
- Postpartum or perinatal depression.
- Depression psychotic.
- Seasonal depression.
- Depression brought on by bipolar illness.
Causes of depression and risk factors that can lead to clinical depression
Numerous genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors can increase an individual’s risk of developing it, according to studies.
According to the NIMH, risk factors linked to increased rates of it consist of:
- Having a personal or family history of it.
- Experiencing major life changes.
- Trauma.
- Stress.
- Brain chemistry.
- Certain physical ailments and medications, including drugs prescribed for conditions from controlling high blood pressure to treating asthma to helping with smoking cessation.
- Severe, long-term medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
- Adversity in early life, such as childhood trauma (physical or sexual abuse), has also been connected to increased rates of it both during and after the trauma.
Treatments for depression and getting help
Experts advise people who suspect they or a loved one are suffering from it to seek professional help so they can be properly diagnosed and treated. In particular, anyone who is having suicidal thoughts, experiencing psychosis or whose safety might otherwise be compromised is urged to get help immediately.
Treatments vary based on factors ranging from the it type, symptoms and severity, and individual preference. In the most severe cases, individuals may benefit from inpatient hospitalization – either voluntarily or against their will in some cases. When someone is an active danger to themselves or those around them, this may be the most appropriate course of treatment. For example, if there’s an active intent to commit suicide, “where they have both formulated a plan, and they have the intent to carry that out,” Merrill says, then they’re likely in need of hospitalization for round-the-clock care.
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Disclaimer: The opinions and suggestions expressed in this article are solely those of the individual analysts. These are not the opinions of HNN. For more, please consult with your doctor.
