The following are descriptions of the most common types of depression.
1. Major Depressive Disorder
When people use the terms
depression or
clinical depression, they are generally referring to major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by a depressed mood, a lack of interest in activities normally enjoyed, changes in weight and sleep, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, difficulty concentrating and thoughts of death and suicide. If a person experiences the majority of these symptoms for longer than a two-week period, they may be diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
2. Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymia (pronounced Dis-THIGH-me-uh) comes from the Greek roots
dys, meaning "ill" or "bad," and
thymia, meaning "mind" or "emotions." The terms
dysthymia and
dysthymic disorder refer to a mild to moderate, chronic state of depression.
3. Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is an illness that consists of alternating periods of elevated moods, called manic episodes, and depression. Mood swings run on a spectrum from mild mania (called hypomania) to more severe, debilitating highs. Periods of mania can last for hours, days, weeks or even months before depression returns.
4. Postpartum Depression
Pregnancy brings about many hormonal shifts. These dramatic shifts can sometimes affect mood. This is commonly known as the "baby blues." Postpartum depression can be more than just a case of the blues, however. It can range from mild symptoms that go away without treatment all the way up to postpartum psychosis, which left untreated, may be responsible for tragic murders of children.
5. Seasonal Affective Disorder
If you experience depression, sleepiness, weight gain and carbohydrate cravings during the winter months, but feel great as soon as spring returns, you may have a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
6. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
The most frequently reported symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) include irritability, fatigue, anxiety, nervous tension, mood swings, depression, feeling overwhelmed or out of control, physical symptoms of swelling or bloating of the abdomen or extremities, appetite changes and food cravings, aches, and breast tenderness. These symptoms may occur for several days to 2 weeks before menses but subside with the onset of the menstrual period. When these symptoms, especially those of mood, are severe, a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) may be made.
7. Atypical Depression
Do you experience symptoms such as improved mood when good things happen, overeating, sleeping too much or sensitivity to rejection? These are symptoms characteristic of atypical depression, which is a type of depression which does not follow the "typical" set of depression symptoms, such as a lack of appetite and insomnia. It is actually more common than the name might imply.
