The Facts
Depression is a medical condition characterized by long-lasting feelings
of intense sadness and hopelessness coupled with additional mental and physical
changes. The condition often affects a person's personal, social, and/or
professional life.
About one in five women and one in ten men will suffer from depression at
some point in life. Depression in children and adolescents occurs less commonly
than in adults.
Types of depression
There are several different types of depression, and the diagnosis is mostly
determined by the nature and intensity of the mental and physical symptoms,
the duration of the symptoms, and the specific cause of the symptoms, if that
is known.
Clinical depression (or major depressive disorder, MDD) is the most
serious type of depression, in terms of the number and severity of symptoms,
but there are significant individual differences in the symptoms and severity.
People affected with major depression may not have suicidal tendencies, and
may never have received medical treatment. The person's interest and pleasure
in many activities, energy levels, and eating and sleeping patterns are usually
altered.
Dysthymia (or minor depression) refers to a low-to-moderate level of
depression that persists for at least two years, and often longer. While the
occurrence of symptoms is not as frequent as in major depression, dysthymia
can result in as much disability as major depression. It is often not recognized
that dysthymia is a medical condition that responds equally effectively to the
same treatments as major depression. Some people with dysthmia develop a major
depression at some time during the course of their depression.
Bipolar depression (or manic depression) includes both high and low
mood swings, and a variety of other significant symptoms not present in other
types of depression.
Other types of depression include seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
and post-partum depression. SAD is a sub-type of depression that regularly
occurs at the same time of year (most often in the fall or winter months in
North America). Post-partum depression begins a few weeks after giving birth
and is a sub-type of depression. Post-partum depression is different from the
temporary state known as the "baby blues" that often happens 24 to
72 hours after a woman gives birth. This temporary state is caused by the hormonal
changes that occur during pregnancy and after giving birth and typically resolves
in less than a week.
In some cases, depression is associated with other chronic medical conditions,
which negatively impact the person's quality of life and well-being.