Types of Depression

Major Depression

Major Depression, or, more properly, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is characterized by a severely depressed mood that comes and goes for weeks at a time and is generally recognized to contain an organic (chemical) component. Major Depressive Disorder

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Bipolar depression, also identified as manic depression, is categorized as a type of affective disorder or mood disorder that happens during life's normal difficulties. It can become a severe clinical condition. It is a significant health concern in the United States. This is --- [More...]
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is specified as either "a single episode" or "recurrent"; periods of depression may occur as discrete events or as recurrent over the lifespan.

Diagnosticians recognize several subtypes of Major Depressive Disorder.

Catatonic Features Specification - Catatonia is characterized by

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Yes, there are actually three primary types of depression. Most of these are established by how ominous the signs are. They are: � Major depression - This is the most serious type of mood disorder based on the number of signs and austerity of symptoms. --- [More...]
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motoric immobility evidenced by catalepsy or stupor. This MDD subtype may also manifest excessive, nonprompted motor activity (akathisia), extreme negativism or mutism, and peculiarities in movement, including stereotypical movements, prominent mannerisms, and prominent grimacing. There may also be evidence of echolalia or echopraxia.
Melancholic Features Specification - Melancholia is characterized by a loss of pleasure (anhedonia) in most or all activities, a failure of reactivity to pleasurable stimuli, a quality of depressed mood

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This is the most serious type of depression. More symptoms found in this depression that are usually severe and serious. Sometimes, it can be an effect from a particular disturbing incident in your life or it may develop gradually because of various personal frustrations --- [More...]
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more pronounced than that of grief or loss, a worsening of symptoms in the morning hours, early morning waking, psychomotor retardation, anorexia (excessive weight loss, not to be confused with Anorexia Nervosa), or excessive guilt.
Atypical Features Specification Atypicality is characterized by mood reactivity

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According to the American Psychiatric Association, as a person gets well from depression, the first sign that normally develop are sleeping problems and loss of cravings for food. Afterwards, the energy and interest in activities also progress, as do the capability to sense --- [More...]
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(paradoxical anhedonia) and positivity, significant weight gain or increased appetite, excessive sleep or somnolence (hypersomnia), leaden paralysis, or significant social impairment as a consequence of hypersensitivity to perceived interpersonal rejection.
Psychotic Features Specification presents with hallucinations or delusions that are either mood-congruent (content coincident with depressive themes) or non-mood-congruent (content not coincident with depressive themes). It is clinically more common to encounter a delusional system as an adjunct to depression than to encounter hallucinations, whether visual or auditory.

Other Categories of Depression

Dysthymia

Dysthymia is a long-term, mild depression that lasts for a minimum of two years. By definition the symptoms are not as severe as with Major Depression, although those with Dysthymia are vulnerable to co-occurring episodes

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Postpartum depressions can varies from temporary "blues" following childbirth to serious, unbearable and emotional depressions. Post partum depression signs are just the same to those experienced by other depressives, involving desperate belief, feelings of despair, low self-confidence, and constant fatigue and mood changes. --- [More...]
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of Major Depression. This disorder often begins in adolescence and crosses the lifespan.

Bipolar I Disorder

Bipolar I Disorder is an episodic illness in which moods may cycle between mania> and depression. In the United States, Bipolar Disorder was previously called Manic Depression. This term is no longer favored by the medical community, however, even though depression plays a much stronger (in terms of disability and potential for suicide) role in the disorder. "Manic Depression" is still often used in the nonmedical community.

Bipolar II Disorder

Bipolar II Disorder is an episodic illness that is defined

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The most commonly used anti-depressants also have notable side effects that many people may feel. They do not signify that the anti-depressant doesn't work. The most common side effects are: � Nausea � Diarrhea � Sedation or insomnia � Increased sweating � Shakiness Some of the other anti-depressants also lessens libido. Side effects commonly --- [More...]
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primarily by depression but evidences episodes of hypomania.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression or Post-Natal Depression is clinical depression that occurs within two years of childbirth. Due to physical, mental and emotional exhaustion combined with sleep-deprivation; motherhood can "set women up" so to speak for clinical depression.

(Thanks to Wikipedia for this excellent description.)

Featured Info Today:

Depression is a disorder, engaged in a person's body, mood and thoughts. It can influence and interrupts eating, sleeping or judging manner. It is different from unhappiness or a "down" feeling. It is also not an indication of personal flaws or a condition --- [More...]