Depression: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

A diagnosis of major depressive disorder (clinical depression) means you have felt sad, low or worthless most days for at least two weeks ... ThinkyoumayhaveCOVID-19? Findoutwhereyoucangettested Needavaccineorbooster? Nowschedulingforages6monthsandup ComingtoaClevelandCliniclocation? Visitationandmaskrequirements Home / HealthLibrary / Disease&Conditions Depression Depressionisamedicalconditionthataffectsyourmoodandabilitytofunction.Depressiontypesincludeclinicaldepression,bipolardepression,dysthymia,seasonalaffectivedisorderandothers.Treatmentoptionsrangefromcounselingtomedicationstobrainstimulationandcomplementarytherapies. Appointments866.588.2264 Appointments&Locations RequestanAppointment Overview SymptomsandCauses DiagnosisandTests ManagementandTreatment Prevention Outlook/Prognosis LivingWith Depression Overview SymptomsandCauses DiagnosisandTests ManagementandTreatment Prevention Outlook/Prognosis LivingWith BackToTop Overview Whatisdepression? Depressionisamedicalconditionthataffectsyourmoodandabilitytofunction. Depressivesymptomsincludefeelingsad,anxiousorhopeless.Theconditioncanalsocausedifficultywiththinking,memory,eatingandsleeping.Adiagnosisofmajordepressivedisorder(clinicaldepression)meansyouhavefeltsad,loworworthlessmostdaysforatleasttwoweekswhilealsohavingothersymptomssuchassleepproblems,lossofinterestinactivities,orchangeinappetite. Withouttreatment,depressioncangetworseandlastlonger.Inseverecases,itcanleadtoself-harmordeath.Fortunately,treatmentscanbeveryeffectiveinimprovingsymptomsofdepression. Howcommonisdepression? Depressioniscommonallovertheworld.Healthcareprovidersestimatethatnearly7%ofAmericanadultshavedepressioneveryyear.Morethan16%ofU.S.adults—around1in6—willexperiencedepressionintheirlifetime. Whatarethetypesofdepression? Healthcareprovidersnamedepressiontypesaccordingtosymptomsandcauses.Theseepisodesoftenhavenoobviouscause.Insomepeople,theycanlingermuchlongerthaninothersfornoclearreason. Typesofdepressioninclude: Majordepressivedisorder(MDD):Majordepression(clinicaldepression)hasintenseoroverwhelmingsymptomsthatlastlongerthantwoweeks.Thesesymptomsinterferewitheverydaylife. Bipolardepression:Peoplewithbipolardisorderhavealternatingperiodsoflowmoodandextremelyhigh-energy(manic)periods.Duringthelowperiod,theymayhavedepressionsymptomssuchasfeelingsadorhopelessorlackingenergy. Perinatalandpostpartumdepression:“Perinatal”meansaroundbirth.Manypeoplerefertothistypeaspostpartumdepression.Perinataldepressioncanoccurduringpregnancyanduptooneyearafterhavingababy.Symptomsgobeyond“thebabyblues,”whichcausesminorsadness,worryorstress. Persistentdepressivedisorder(PDD):PDDisalsoknownasdysthymia.SymptomsofPDDarelessseverethanmajordepression.ButpeopleexperiencePDDsymptomsfortwoyearsorlonger. Premenstrualdysphoricdisorder(PMDD):Premenstrualdysphoricdisorderisasevereformofpremenstrualdisorder(PMS).Itaffectswomeninthedaysorweeksleadinguptotheirmenstrualperiod. Psychoticdepression:Peoplewithpsychoticdepressionhaveseveredepressivesymptomsanddelusionsorhallucinations.Delusionsarebeliefsinthingsthatarenotbasedinreality,whilehallucinationsinvolveseeing,hearing,orfeelingtouchedbythingsthataren’tactuallythere. Seasonalaffectivedisorder(SAD):Seasonaldepression,orseasonalaffectivedisorder,usuallystartsinlatefallandearlywinter.Itoftengoesawayduringthespringandsummer. SymptomsandCauses Whatcausesdepression? Variousfactorscancausedepression: Brainchemistry:Abnormalitiesinbrainchemicallevelsmayleadtodepression. Genetics:Ifyouhavearelativewithdepression,youmaybemorelikelytobecomedepressed. Lifeevents:Stress,thedeathofalovedone,upsettingevents(trauma),isolationandlackofsupportcancausedepression. Medicalconditions:Ongoingphysicalpainandillnessescancausedepression.Peopleoftenhavedepressionalongwithconditionslikediabetes,cancerandParkinson’sdisease. Medication:Somemedicationshavedepressionasasideeffect.Recreationaldrugsandalcoholcanalsocausedepressionormakeitworse. Personality:Peoplewhoareeasilyoverwhelmedorhavetroublecopingmaybepronetodepression. Whatarethesymptomsofdepression? Depressioncanaffectyouremotions,mindandbody.Depressionsymptomsinclude: Feelingverysad,hopelessorworried. Notenjoyingthingsthatusedtogiveyoujoy. Beingeasilyirritatedorfrustrated. Eatingtoomuchortoolittle. Changesinhowmuchyousleep. Havingadifficulttimeconcentratingorrememberingthings. Experiencingphysicalproblemslikeheadache,stomachacheorsexualdysfunction. Thinkingabouthurtingorkillingyourself. Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowhasthoughtsofhurtingthemselves,pleasecalltheNationalSuicidePreventionLifelineat800.273.8255.Thisnationalnetworkoflocalcrisiscentersprovidesfree,privateemotionalsupporttopeopleinsuicidalcrisisoremotionaldistress24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek. DiagnosisandTests Howisdepressionsyndromediagnosed? Everyonemayfeelsadordownfromtimetotime.However,clinicaldepressionhasmoreintensesymptomsthatlasttwoweeksorlonger. Todeterminewhetheryouhaveclinicaldepression,yourhealthcareproviderwillaskquestions.Youmaycompleteaquestionnaireandprovideafamilyhistory.Yourhealthcareprovidermayalsoperformanexamororderlabteststoseeifyouhaveanothermedicalcondition. ManagementandTreatment Howisdepressionsyndrometreated? Depressioncanbeserious,butit’salsotreatable.Treatmentfordepressionincludes: Self-help:Regularexercise,gettingenoughsleep,andspendingtimewithpeopleyoucareaboutcanimprovedepressionsymptoms. Counseling:Counselingorpsychotherapyistalkingwithamentalhealthprofessional.Yourcounselorhelpsyouaddressyourproblemsanddevelopcopingskills.Sometimesbrieftherapyisallyouneed.Otherpeoplecontinuetherapylonger. Alternativemedicine:Peoplewithmilddepressionorongoingsymptomscanimprovetheirwell-beingwithcomplementarytherapy.Therapymayincludemassage,acupuncture,hypnosisandbiofeedback. Medication:Prescriptionmedicinecalledantidepressantscanhelpchangebrainchemistrythatcausesdepression.Antidepressantscantakeafewweekstohaveaneffect.Someantidepressantshavesideeffects,whichoftenimprovewithtime.Iftheydon’t,talktoyourprovider.Adifferentmedicationsmayworkbetterforyou. Brainstimulationtherapy:Brainstimulationtherapycanhelppeoplewhohaveseveredepressionordepressionwithpsychosis.Typesofbrainstimulationtherapyincludeelectroconvulsivetherapy(ECT),transcranialmagneticstimulation(TMS)andvagusnervestimulation(VNS). Prevention Whoisatriskfordepression? Depressioncanaffectanyone,nomattertheirage,genderorcircumstances.About16millionAmericansexperiencedepressioneachyear. Womenmayexperiencedepressionmoreoftenthanmen.Andyourgeneticsorotherhealthconditionscanincreasethelikelihoodthatyou’llhaveatleastonedepressiveepisodeinyourlifetime. Candepressionbeprevented? Youcanhelppreventdepressionbygettingenoughsleep,eatingahealthydietandpracticingregularself-careactivitiessuchasexercise,meditationandyoga. Ifyou’vehaddepressionbefore,youmaybemorelikelytoexperienceitagain.Ifyouhavedepressionsymptoms,gethelp.Carecanhelpyoufeelbettersooner. Outlook/Prognosis What’stheoutlookforpeoplewithdepression? Depressioncanbemildorsevere.Anditcanbebrieforlong-lasting.It’simportanttogethelprightaway. Withouttreatment,depressioncan: Becomeworse. Increaseyourchanceofotherhealthconditions,likedementia. Leadtoself-harmordeath. Return,evenafteryoustarttofeelbetter. LivingWith WhatcanIdoifIhavedepression? Ifyouhavesymptomsofdepression,seeyourhealthcareprovider.Theycangiveyouanaccuratediagnosis,referyoutoaspecialistorsuggesttreatmentoptions. Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowisthinkingofhurtingthemselvesortakingtheirownlife: Call911ortheNationalSuicidePreventionLifeline:1-800-273-8255(TYY:1-800-799-4TTY(4889). Gototheemergencydepartmentofyourhospital. Contactahealthcareprovider. Speaktoatrustedfriend,familymemberorspiritualleader. AnotefromClevelandClinic DepressionisacommonconditionthataffectsmillionsofAmericanseveryyear.Anyonecanexperiencedepression—eveniftheredoesn’tseemtobeareasonforit.Causesofdepressionincludedifficultiesinlife,brainchemistryabnormalities,somemedicationsandphysicalconditions.Thegoodnewsisthatdepressionistreatable.Ifyouhavesymptomsofdepression,talktoyourhealthcareprovider.Thesooneryougethelp,thesooneryoucanfeelbetter Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Getuseful,helpfulandrelevanthealth+wellnessinformation enews ClevelandClinicisanon-profitacademicmedicalcenter.Advertisingonoursitehelpssupportourmission.Wedonotendorsenon-ClevelandClinicproductsorservices. Policy RelatedInstitutes&Services NeurologicalInstitute TheNeurologicalInstituteisaleaderintreatingandresearchingthemostcomplexneurologicaldisordersandadvancinginnovationsinneurology. 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