Major depressive disorder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Clinical depression)Depression
Classification and external resources
Vincent van Gogh's 1890 painting On the Threshold of Eternity
ICD-10 F32., F33.
ICD-9 296
OMIM 608516
DiseasesDB 3589
MedlinePlus 003213
eMedicine med/532
Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression, is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive low mood and loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The diagnosis is made if a person has suffered one or more major depressive episodes, and is based on the patient's self-reported experiences and observed behavior. There is no laboratory test for major depression, although physicians often test for physical conditions that may cause similar symptoms before arriving at a diagnosis. The course of the disorder varies widely, from a one-off occurrence to a lifelong disorder with recurrent episodes. The most common time of onset is between the ages of 30 and 40, with a later peak between 50 and 60. Major depression occurs more often in women than men.
Both psychological and biological causes have been proposed, and the question of whether there are two separate conditions or a continuum of a single disorder has been debated since the 1920s. Current classification has favored the latter theory since the creation of the term major depressive disorder in 1980. The neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine have been implicated, and most antidepressants work to increase their active levels in the brain. However, the relief of symptoms usually occurs several weeks or more after changes in neurotransmitter levels, which suggests that the precise role of neurotransmitter levels in depressive illness is still not fully understood. Psychological factors have also been implicated, and other forms of psychotherapy are used to address them. Hospitalization may be necessary in cases associated with self-neglect or a significant risk of suicide, and electroconvulsive therapy is used in severe cases.
Ideas about what causes and constitutes depression have evolved over the centuries, and they remain a source of discussion. The term depression is commonly used to describe a temporary depressed or sad mood. By contrast, major depression is a serious and often disabling condition that can significantly affect a person's work, family and school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health. However, authorities such as Australian psychiatrist Gordon Parker have argued that it is overdiagnosed, and that current diagnostic standards have the effect of medicalizing sadness.
Dealing with Depression: Am I depressed?, bruises, nightmares::
Oct 27, 2008 bruises, nightmares, guts: Hi Heidi, You have mild depression. Your emotional numbness is common stage for people your age.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dealing-Depression-1814/2008/10/depressed-11.htmHOME |
In Western countries, approximately 3.4 percent of people with major depression eventually commit suicide. Up to 60 percent of all people who commit suicide have a mood disorder, such as depression, and their risk may be higher if they feel a marked sense of hopelessness or have both depression and borderline personality disorder. Depressed individuals have a shortened life expectancy, being more susceptible to conditions such as heart disease than the non-depressed.
My goodness, that's an amazing question in this day and age. I will give you my scene for my depression.
I have feelings of being totally overwhelmed with the simplest of tasks from time to time, such as which toothpaste to buy. Silly, but true.
I have intense feelings of sadness, where it is all I can do to get through the day without it seeming as though everything is pointless.
I also go through times of extreme moods... anger, joy, elation, giddiness, hopelessness, indifference and the like.
Not everyone experiences all the symptoms mentioned, and some experience others along with. Each person is wired differently.
There are many anti-depressants on the market to help with depression. I take Wellbutrin XL 3 times a day, and I am feeling "normal" for the first time in years.
It's very tempting to go off the meds once you have it built up in your system, because you get to thinking you don't need it. Don't stop taking the meds. They are working, and you tell it in how you feel and function. If you feel you don't need it, that's when you need it the most. When you lapse, it gets harder and harder to pull yourself out.
Please speak with a doctor or a professional you trust if you have issues with depression. Help is out there for you if you just look a little. Good luck!
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What is Depression? Who is depressed? 
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