There are three main categories of depression disorder. They are known as Bipolar Disorder, Chronic Depression Disorder and Major Depression Disorder. Of the three mood disorders Major Depression Disorder is the most severe. This disorder may also be called Severe Depression.

In Severe Depression the cause can be a single traumatic event in your life. It could even be the result of many personal disappointments and problems in your life. Sometimes it is possible to develop Severe Depression without any traumatic events or life problems. Still other times people who suffer from Chronic Depression can go into Severe Depression as a result of a traumatic event.

The symptoms of depression are also present in Severe Depression. They are however more intense than normal depression symptoms. For most people who suffer from Severe Depression, they can either have a recurring Severe Depression episode or their Severe Depression may occur only once in their lifetime and never reoccur again.

Recurring Severe Depression is where the individual will have periods of Severe Depression that are followed by periods of depression. After these bouts of depression are finished, they will be able to live at least several years without any episodes of depression. They may have another episode of Severe Depression which can arise due to some traumatic event. In a single episode of Severe Depression the symptoms occur due to a major traumatic event in the individual’s life. Once medical treatment has taken effect, the Severe Depression will not occur again in their lifetime.

In general the medication that is prescribed for Severe Depression is anti-depressants. There are several types of depression medications that are used for Severe Depression. These medications include Tricyclics, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors, Noradrenergic and Serotonergic anti-depressants, Serotonin 5-HT (2) Receptor Antagonists, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Bupropion.

The other type of treatment that works for Severe Depression is that of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The best method of treatment is that of medication combined with cognitive therapy. The therapy is used to treat the psychological aspects of Severe Depression while the medication will treat the symptoms of Severe Depression.

The intensified symptoms of Severe Depression include restlessness, irritability, insomnia, oversleeping, fatigue, thoughts of death, suicide, early morning waking, pessimism, hopelessness, weight loss or gain, and a change in appetite

These symptoms coupled with any traumatic incident or an accumulation of life problems can trigger either recurring Severe Depression or episodic Severe Depression. Both types of Severe Depression need to be treated as the consequences can be life threatening. Should you suspect that you may be having Severe Depression then you should get immediate medical help.



Thanks to Krishan Bakhru for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

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There are many illnesses which have been known to cause much confusion in people, especially in recorded history, such as depression. This disorder was suffered by historical figures such as King David and Job (from the Hebrew bible). Hippocrates even mentioned having depression, which was then contemporarily known as Melancholia, caused by the excess of ‘black bile. Old medical physiologyy stated there were four humours based on the four main bodily fluids black and yellow bile, blood and lastly, phlegm. For years to come, depression was portrayed in arts and literature. what do we understand about depressive disorder today?

Depressive disorders have been around for centuries, and many people have suffered without getting diagnosed and the necessary treatment. Today, there is more awareness about the disorder, even though millions are still unaware they have it. For some people, it is still embarrassing to reveal that they suffer from this illness and they don’t want to accept it themselves. Depressive disorders are made up of different types, like a lot of other illnesses. The more familiar types known to people are Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, and Dysthymia.

In Bipolar a patient has depression as well as mania cycles. In Major Depression, the symptoms include feeling sad, not being able to eat and sleep properly, inability to cope with work and finding life less enjoyable. Their lives are upset greatly. Dysthymia is not as severe as Major Depression, although there are long term symptoms and a person can experience major depressive episodes. Whilst there is no cure, there are good treatments and medications to help patients stabilise and control any episodes. Their quality of life becomes better.

Many symptoms are present in Depressive Disorders. Anyone with Bipolar can experience all these symptoms during a cycle of depression. During a cycle of mania, only symptoms to do with the cycle are felt.

The following is a list of the depressive symptoms experienced by Bipolar patients:

. Ongoing anxiety, sadness and of ‘feeling empty’

. Losing interest and pleasure in activities or hobbies that were once very enjoyable

. Insomnia or a tendency to oversleep

. Eating more and gaining weight

. Loss of appetite, with weight reduction

. Thoughts of suicide and death

. Lack of energy and fatigue

. Feeling restless and irritable

. Unable to make decisions, loss of concentration and memory

. They feel physical symptoms: digestive disorders, muscular aches and pains, more headaches.

Not all the symptoms are experienced by Bipolar patients. There may only be a few from the list, whilst there are those who get many of the symptoms. Symptoms vary for each person with many degrees of severity.

An individual needs to have a proper psychological and physical evaluation, so that suitable treatment can be organised. A doctor will carry out a full interview asking many questions, with a physical examination and laboratory tests to rule out any other possibilities. Sometimes depressive symptoms can be brought on by other illness or side effects of medication that are taken for other conditions. This is important for any person so that the correct type of depressive illness is determined.

The evaluation is diagnostic in looking at the patient’s medical history, the symptoms they experience, and for how long. Questions will be asked to find out the severity of what they feel, and if they have experienced certain symptoms. The doctor will also need to know if you have been treated before for the same symptoms and the medications you were prescribed. A Bipolar patient will also be asked whether they use alcohol or drugs, which can influence how they feel, or any thoughts they have had on death or suicide. Looking at the family’s medical history is important to determine any causes.

A person’s mental status can be affected by the Bipolar Depression symptoms. Their memory, speech and also their thought pattern can also be assessed in an evaluation to see how they have been affected. It also helps to speak to the patient’s spouse, partner or close friend who knows them to see how they have changed. X-rays and blood tests are not required in mental disorders. Medical, detailed scans such as CT, MRI, PET and SPECT are unable to detect brain changes of patients with Bipolar or, in fact, any other mental illness.

A doctor who specialises in this field, is able to evaluate the state of a Bipolar patient’s mind properly. The correct treatment along with medication can then be prescribed to help the patient as soon as possible to control the episodes, and lead a normal life. For the individual, their symptoms may be normal for them, but treatment is necessary for their wellbeing. It can be alarming for others when they see a person at the height of their depressive illness, for example if they do things to the extreme. They may be seen as insane.

You should always see a doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms to determine the cause. Looking at the major symptoms of Bipolar can help, as any symptoms no matter how few, can indicate that you could be suffering from Bipolar.



Thanks to Abhishek Agarwal for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

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Can you answer Canchito’s question about Depression?:

My GP wrote a report on me stating that I had all three conditions at the same time. I don’t believe it’s possible to have even two of them at once. I believe Cyclothymia is a less severe form of Bipolar, and Depression when combined with hypomania is a symptom of Cyclothymia, not a disorder in itself.

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Can you answer k’s question about Depression?:

I used to smoke weed for about three years, but I quit for religious purposes, and now I’m wondering if weed treats things like depression, bipolar disorder, and hypomania? I may be inheriting bipolar disorder or hypomania, time will tell, and I’m a bit depressed. anyways can these things be treated with weed?

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