Depression (major depressive disorder) - Symptoms and causes

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest and can interfere with your daily ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions FindoutaboutCOVID-19,COVID-19vaccines,andMayoClinicpatientandvisitorupdates. Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforDepression(majordepressivedisorder)Symptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Print OverviewDepressionisamooddisorderthatcausesapersistentfeelingofsadnessandlossofinterest.Alsocalledmajordepressivedisorderorclinicaldepression,itaffectshowyoufeel,thinkandbehaveandcanleadtoavarietyofemotionalandphysicalproblems.Youmayhavetroubledoingnormalday-to-dayactivities,andsometimesyoumayfeelasiflifeisn'tworthliving. Morethanjustaboutoftheblues,depressionisn'taweaknessandyoucan'tsimply"snapout"ofit.Depressionmayrequirelong-termtreatment.Butdon'tgetdiscouraged.Mostpeoplewithdepressionfeelbetterwithmedication,psychotherapyorboth. DepressioncareatMayoClinicProducts&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsAlthoughdepressionmayoccuronlyonceduringyourlife,peopletypicallyhavemultipleepisodes.Duringtheseepisodes,symptomsoccurmostoftheday,nearlyeverydayandmayinclude: Feelingsofsadness,tearfulness,emptinessorhopelessness Angryoutbursts,irritabilityorfrustration,evenoversmallmatters Lossofinterestorpleasureinmostorallnormalactivities,suchassex,hobbiesorsports Sleepdisturbances,includinginsomniaorsleepingtoomuch Tirednessandlackofenergy,soevensmalltaskstakeextraeffort Reducedappetiteandweightlossorincreasedcravingsforfoodandweightgain Anxiety,agitationorrestlessness Slowedthinking,speakingorbodymovements Feelingsofworthlessnessorguilt,fixatingonpastfailuresorself-blame Troublethinking,concentrating,makingdecisionsandrememberingthings Frequentorrecurrentthoughtsofdeath,suicidalthoughts,suicideattemptsorsuicide Unexplainedphysicalproblems,suchasbackpainorheadaches Formanypeoplewithdepression,symptomsusuallyaresevereenoughtocausenoticeableproblemsinday-to-dayactivities,suchaswork,school,socialactivitiesorrelationshipswithothers.Somepeoplemayfeelgenerallymiserableorunhappywithoutreallyknowingwhy. DepressionsymptomsinchildrenandteensCommonsignsandsymptomsofdepressioninchildrenandteenagersaresimilartothoseofadults,buttherecanbesomedifferences. Inyoungerchildren,symptomsofdepressionmayincludesadness,irritability,clinginess,worry,achesandpains,refusingtogotoschool,orbeingunderweight. Inteens,symptomsmayincludesadness,irritability,feelingnegativeandworthless,anger,poorperformanceorpoorattendanceatschool,feelingmisunderstoodandextremelysensitive,usingrecreationaldrugsoralcohol,eatingorsleepingtoomuch,self-harm,lossofinterestinnormalactivities,andavoidanceofsocialinteraction. DepressionsymptomsinolderadultsDepressionisnotanormalpartofgrowingolder,anditshouldneverbetakenlightly.Unfortunately,depressionoftengoesundiagnosedanduntreatedinolderadults,andtheymayfeelreluctanttoseekhelp.Symptomsofdepressionmaybedifferentorlessobviousinolderadults,suchas: Memorydifficultiesorpersonalitychanges Physicalachesorpain Fatigue,lossofappetite,sleepproblemsorlossofinterestinsex—notcausedbyamedicalconditionormedication Oftenwantingtostayathome,ratherthangoingouttosocializeordoingnewthings Suicidalthinkingorfeelings,especiallyinoldermen WhentoseeadoctorIfyoufeeldepressed,makeanappointmenttoseeyourdoctorormentalhealthprofessionalassoonasyoucan.Ifyou'rereluctanttoseektreatment,talktoafriendorlovedone,anyhealthcareprofessional,afaithleader,orsomeoneelseyoutrust. WhentogetemergencyhelpIfyouthinkyoumayhurtyourselforattemptsuicide,call911oryourlocalemergencynumberimmediately. Alsoconsidertheseoptionsifyou'rehavingsuicidalthoughts: Callyourdoctorormentalhealthprofessional. Callasuicidehotlinenumber—intheU.S.,calltheNationalSuicidePreventionLifelineat1-800-273-TALK(1-800-273-8255).Usethatsamenumberandpress"1"toreachtheVeteransCrisisLine. Reachouttoaclosefriendorlovedone. Contactaminister,spiritualleaderorsomeoneelseinyourfaithcommunity. Ifyouhavealovedonewhoisindangerofsuicideorhasmadeasuicideattempt,makesuresomeonestayswiththatperson.Call911oryourlocalemergencynumberimmediately.Or,ifyouthinkyoucandososafely,takethepersontothenearesthospitalemergencyroom.MoreInformationDepression(majordepressivedisorder)careatMayoClinicMaledepression:UnderstandingtheissuesNervousbreakdown:Whatdoesitmean?Painanddepression:Istherealink?Showmorerelatedinformation   Thereisaproblemwith informationsubmittedforthisrequest.Review/updatethe informationhighlightedbelowandresubmittheform. FromMayoClinictoyourinbox Signupforfree,andstayuptodateonresearchadvancements,healthtipsandcurrenthealthtopics,likeCOVID-19,plusexpertiseonmanaginghealth. 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Sorrysomethingwentwrongwithyoursubscription Please,tryagaininacoupleofminutes Retry RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesIt'snotknownexactlywhatcausesdepression.Aswithmanymentaldisorders,avarietyoffactorsmaybeinvolved,suchas: Biologicaldifferences.Peoplewithdepressionappeartohavephysicalchangesintheirbrains.Thesignificanceofthesechangesisstilluncertain,butmayeventuallyhelppinpointcauses. Brainchemistry.Neurotransmittersarenaturallyoccurringbrainchemicalsthatlikelyplayaroleindepression.Recentresearchindicatesthatchangesinthefunctionandeffectoftheseneurotransmittersandhowtheyinteractwithneurocircuitsinvolvedinmaintainingmoodstabilitymayplayasignificantroleindepressionanditstreatment. Hormones.Changesinthebody'sbalanceofhormonesmaybeinvolvedincausingortriggeringdepression.Hormonechangescanresultwithpregnancyandduringtheweeksormonthsafterdelivery(postpartum)andfromthyroidproblems,menopauseoranumberofotherconditions. Inheritedtraits.Depressionismorecommoninpeoplewhosebloodrelativesalsohavethiscondition.Researchersaretryingtofindgenesthatmaybeinvolvedincausingdepression. MoreInformationDepression(majordepressivedisorder)careatMayoClinicMarijuanaanddepressionVitaminB-12anddepression RiskfactorsDepressionoftenbeginsintheteens,20sor30s,butitcanhappenatanyage.Morewomenthanmenarediagnosedwithdepression,butthismaybedueinpartbecausewomenaremorelikelytoseektreatment. Factorsthatseemtoincreasetheriskofdevelopingortriggeringdepressioninclude: Certainpersonalitytraits,suchaslowself-esteemandbeingtoodependent,self-criticalorpessimistic Traumaticorstressfulevents,suchasphysicalorsexualabuse,thedeathorlossofalovedone,adifficultrelationship,orfinancialproblems Bloodrelativeswithahistoryofdepression,bipolardisorder,alcoholismorsuicide Beinglesbian,gay,bisexualortransgender,orhavingvariationsinthedevelopmentofgenitalorgansthataren'tclearlymaleorfemale(intersex)inanunsupportivesituation Historyofothermentalhealthdisorders,suchasanxietydisorder,eatingdisordersorpost-traumaticstressdisorder Abuseofalcoholorrecreationaldrugs Seriousorchronicillness,includingcancer,stroke,chronicpainorheartdisease Certainmedications,suchassomehighbloodpressuremedicationsorsleepingpills(talktoyourdoctorbeforestoppinganymedication) ComplicationsDepressionisaseriousdisorderthatcantakeaterribletollonyouandyourfamily.Depressionoftengetsworseifitisn'ttreated,resultinginemotional,behavioralandhealthproblemsthataffecteveryareaofyourlife. Examplesofcomplicationsassociatedwithdepressioninclude: Excessweightorobesity,whichcanleadtoheartdiseaseanddiabetes Painorphysicalillness Alcoholordrugmisuse Anxiety,panicdisorderorsocialphobia Familyconflicts,relationshipdifficulties,andworkorschoolproblems Socialisolation Suicidalfeelings,suicideattemptsorsuicide Self-mutilation,suchascutting Prematuredeathfrommedicalconditions MoreInformationDepression(majordepressivedisorder)careatMayoClinicDepressionandanxiety:CanIhaveboth? PreventionThere'snosurewaytopreventdepression.However,thesestrategiesmayhelp. Takestepstocontrolstress,toincreaseyourresilienceandboostyourself-esteem. Reachouttofamilyandfriends,especiallyintimesofcrisis,tohelpyouweatherroughspells. Gettreatmentattheearliestsignofaproblemtohelppreventdepressionfromworsening. Considergettinglong-termmaintenancetreatmenttohelppreventarelapseofsymptoms. ByMayoClinicStaff Depression(majordepressivedisorder)careatMayoClinic RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment Feb.03,2018 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences BrownAY.AllscriptsEPSi.MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Nov.17,2016. Researchreport:Psychiatryandpsychology,2016-2017.MayoClinic.http://www.mayo.edu/research/departments-divisions/department-psychiatry-psychology/overview?_ga=1.199925222.939187614.1464371889.AccessedJan.23,2017. Depressivedisorders.In:DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisordersDSM-5.5thed.Arlington,Va.:AmericanPsychiatricAssociation;2013.http://www.psychiatryonline.org.AccessedJan.23,2017. Depression.NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.AccessedJan.23,2017. Depression.NationalAllianceonMentalIllness.http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression/Overview.AccessedJan.23,2017. Depression:Whatyouneedtoknow.NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-what-you-need-to-know/index.shtml.AccessedJan.23,2017. Whatisdepression?AmericanPsychiatricAssociation.https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression.AccessedJan.23,2017. Depression.NIHSeniorHealth.https://nihseniorhealth.gov/depression/aboutdepression/01.html.AccessedJan.23,2017. Children’smentalhealth:Anxietyanddepression.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/depression.html#depression.Accessed.Jan.23,2017. Depressionandcomplementaryhealthapproaches:Whatthesciencesays.NationalCenterforComplementaryandIntegrativeHealth.https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/depression-science.AccessedJan.23,2017. Depression.NaturalMedicines.https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/medical-conditions/d/depression.aspx.AccessedJan.23,2017. Naturalmedicinesintheclinicalmanagementofdepression.NaturalMedicines.http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/ce/CECourse.aspx?cs=naturalstandard&s=ND&pm=5&pc=15-111.AccessedJan.23,2017. Theroadtoresilience.AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx.AccessedJan.23,2017. SimonG,etal.Unipolardepressioninadults:Choosinginitialtreatment.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedJan.23,2017. StewartD,etal.Risksofantidepressantsduringpregnancy:Selectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitors(SSRIs).http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedJan.23,2017. KimmelMC,etal.Safetyofinfantexposuretoantidepressantsandbenzodiazepinesthroughbreastfeeding.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedJan.23,2017. Bipolarandrelateddisorders.In:DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisordersDSM-5.5thed.Arlington,Va.:AmericanPsychiatricAssociation;2013.http://www.psychiatryonline.org.AccessedJan.23,2017. HirschM,etal.Monoamineoxidaseinhibitors(MAOIs)fortreatingdepressedadults.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedJan.24,2017. Hall-FlavinDK(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Jan.31,2017. KriegerCA(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Feb.2,2017. Related Antidepressantwithdrawal:Istheresuchathing? Antidepressantsandalcohol:What'stheconcern? Antidepressantsandweightgain:Whatcausesit? Antidepressants:Cantheystopworking? Antidepressants:Selectingonethat'srightforyou Antidepressants:Sideeffects Antidepressants:Whichcausethefewestsexualsideeffects? Atypicalantidepressants Clinicaldepression:Whatdoesthatmean? Depressionandanxiety:CanIhaveboth? Depressioninwomen:Understandingthegendergap Depression,anxietyandexercise Depression:Supportingafamilymemberorfriend Maledepression:Understandingtheissues MAOIsanddiet:Isitnecessarytorestricttyramine? Marijuanaanddepression Monoamineoxidaseinhibitors(MAOIs) Naturalremediesfordepression:Aretheyeffective? Nervousbreakdown:Whatdoesitmean? Painanddepression:Istherealink? Selectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitors(SSRIs) Serotoninandnorepinephrinereuptakeinhibitors(SNRIs) Treatment-resistantdepression Tricyclicantidepressantsandtetracyclicantidepressants VitaminB-12anddepression Showmorerelatedcontent AssociatedProcedures Completebloodcount(CBC) Electroconvulsivetherapy(ECT) Psychotherapy Transcranialmagneticstimulation Vagusnervestimulation Showmoreassociatedprocedures NewsfromMayoClinic MayoClinicexpertexplainsdifferencesbetweenadultandteendepression May24,2022,12:19p.m.CDT MayoClinicMinute:Tipstobeatholidaydepression Dec.15,2021,01:10p.m.CDT ScienceSaturday:MayoClinicalgorithmshowspotentialinindividualizingtreatmentfordepression Feb.27,2021,01:00p.m.CDT Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic MayoClinicinRochester,Minn.,hasbeenrecognizedasoneofthetopPsychiatryhospitalsinthenationfor2021-2022byU.S.News&WorldReport. Learnmoreaboutthistophonor Depression(majordepressivedisorder)Symptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. NEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBook-MayoClinicPressNEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBookMayoCliniconIncontinence-MayoClinicPressMayoCliniconIncontinenceNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalance-MayoClinicPressNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalanceFREEMayoClinicDietAssessment-MayoClinicPressFREEMayoClinicDietAssessmentMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook-MayoClinicPressMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook CON-20257464 PatientCare&HealthInformation Diseases&Conditions Depression(majordepressivedisorder)