Depression (also known as major depressive disorder, major depression, or clinical depression) is a prevalent and severe mental illness that negatively impacts a person's emotions, thoughts, behavior, and worldview [1] [2]. It affects how people feel, think, sleep, eat, or work [2]. According to a 2023 national survey, nearly 29% of adults have been diagnosed with depression at some point, and around 18% are currently experiencing it [1]. Women are more likely than men to suffer from depression, and younger adults are more frequently affected compared to older adults [1]. Although depression can develop at any age, it most commonly first appears in the late teens to mid-20s [1].
Types of depression include:
Major depression is characterized by a persistently low mood or loss of interest, occurring most of the time for at least two weeks and disrupting daily life [2] [3].
Persistent depressive disorder (also known as dysthymia or dysthymic disorder), involves less severe but longer-lasting depressive symptoms, typically persisting for a minimum of two years [2] [3].
Perinatal depression encompasses depression that occurs during pregnancy (prenatal depression) or following childbirth (postpartum depression) [2].
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, often beginning in late fall or early winter and subsiding in spring or summer [2].
Depression with psychotic features is a severe form in which an individual experiences symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions or hallucinations [2].
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a more intense form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that happens in the weeks leading up to menstruation [3].
Perimenopausal depression affects some women during the transition to menopause, causing symptoms such as severe irritability, anxiety, sadness, or a diminished sense of enjoyment [3].
People with bipolar disorder, formerly called manic-depressive illness, experience depressive episodes marked by sadness, indifference, or hopelessness, combined with low energy [2]. However, they also experience manic or hypomanic episodes, characterized by elevated or irritable moods and increased activity [2].
References
What is depression? (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
Depression. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
Depression. (n.d.-b). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
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