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Major Depressive disorder

Everyone gets the blues. It’s so ingrained in our lives that a song called “Am I Blue” was written. But what happens if your down in the dumps mood lingers for an extended stay? Well, you may have a form of depression.

Major Depression Disorder or clinical depression is a mood disorder.1 The three types of this disorder are:

  • Major depression with seasonal pattern
  • Major depressive disorder with peripartum onset
  • Major depressive disorder with psychotic features2
 

It impacts people’s behavior, feelings, and thoughts. If the symptoms persist, a person might struggle with functioning in school, at work, or in personal relationships.3

An estimated 6.7 percent of US adults have depression each year.4  While 15.08 percent of adolescents ages 12-17 reported at least one major depressive episode in the previous year.5 Unfortunately, 16.6 percent of people will have depression at some time. However, the onset of depression occurs mainly in the late teens to mid-twenties.6

If you or a loved one has major depression disorder, help is available through an individualized treatment plan.

Causes

The cause of depression is still unknown. Yet changes in your brain, genes, hormones, medical illness, substance abuse, and distressing events might trigger depression.789

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of major depression disorder differ by age group and the type of disorder afflicting the person. A mental health professional will evaluate children, adolescents, and adults to determine a diagnosis of depression.

Children and adolescents with major depression may experience:
  • Aches or pains
  • Trouble falling or staying asleep
  • Feelings of sadness that last for hours
  • Hearing voices
  • Feeling annoyed
  • Lack of focus10
Adults may have the following signs and symptoms:
  • Lack of interest in hobbies or activities once enjoyed
  • Feeling hopeless, irritated, nervous, or anxious
  • Less sleep but more energy
  • Risk-taking
  • Trouble falling or staying asleep
  • Thoughts of self-harm11

If your symptoms don’t improve and persist, it might be time to speak with a therapist.

Treatments

Major Depression Disorder is treatable. Roughly 80-90 percent of depression clients will respond to treatment.12 Medication and psychotherapy are common forms of major depression treatment. The medicine used for depression is called antidepressants. Antidepressants help to balance the chemicals in the brain. In turn, the symptoms of depression improve. More medication might be necessary if a client has delusions or hallucinations.13

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, involves counseling. The client discusses their feelings and thoughts. But they learn ways to cope with them.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often used to treat symptoms of depression. This form of treatment instructs the client on battling negative thoughts with problem-solving skills. The client also becomes more aware of symptoms and what worsens their depression.14

Recommendations

No one enjoys feeling sad. Finding a way to take back your life is possible. Now more than ever, there are services available to treat your major depression disorder symptoms. Make the first step to wellness by scheduling an appointment with our therapists. You’ll be thankful you did.

Works Cited

Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Major Depression.” Www.hopkinsmedicine.org, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/major-depression. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022.

MedlinePlus. “Major Depression: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” Medlineplus.gov, 2013, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000945.htm. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022.

Mental Health America. “Youth Data 2022.” Mental Health America, www.mhanational.org/issues/2022/mental-health-america-youth-data. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022.

Miller, Helen. “Major Depressive Disorder: What Is It? Symptoms and Treatment.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 6 Aug. 2020,

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/major-depressive-disorder. Accessed 29 Mar. 2022.

Torres, Felix. “What Is Depression?” Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association, Oct. 2020, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022.

1 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/major-depressive-disorder
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/major-depressive-disorder#types
3 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
5 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
6 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
7 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000945.htm
8 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/major-depressive-disorder#causes
9 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000945.htm
10 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/major-depressive-disorder#symptoms-by-age
11 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/major-depressive-disorder#symptoms-by-age
12 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
13 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000945.htm
14 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000945.htm