There are different types
of depressive disorders. Symptoms can range from relatively minor (but
still disabling) through to very severe, so it is helpful to be aware of
the range of disorders and their specific symptoms.
Major depression
Major
depression is sometimes called major depressive disorder, clinical
depression, unipolar depression or simply depression. It involves low
mood and/or loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities, as well
as other symptoms such as those described here.
The symptoms are experienced most days and last for at least two weeks.
The symptoms interfere with all areas of a person's life, including
work and social relationships. Depression can be described as mild,
moderate or severe; melancholic or psychotic (see below).
Melancholia
This
is the term used to describe a severe form of depression where many of
the physical symptoms of depression are present. One of the major
changes is that the person can be observed to move more slowly. The
person is also more likely to have a depressed mood that is
characterised by complete loss of pleasure in everything, or almost
everything.
Psychotic depression
Sometimes people with a
depressive disorder can lose touch with reality and experience
psychosis. This can involve hallucinations (seeing or hearing things
that are not there) or delusions (false beliefs that are not shared by
others), such as believing they are bad or evil, or that they are being
watched or followed. They can also be paranoid, feeling as though
everyone is against them or that they are the cause of illness or bad
events occurring around them.
Antenatal and postnatal depression
Women
are at an increased risk of depression during pregnancy (known as the
antenatal or prenatal period) and in the year following childbirth
(known as the postnatal period). You may also come across the term
'perinatal', which describes the period covered by pregnancy and the
first year after the baby's birth.
The causes of depression at
this time can be complex and are often the result of a combination of
factors. In the days immediately following birth, many women experience
the 'baby blues' which is a common condition related to hormonal
changes, affecting up to 80 per cent of women. The 'baby blues', or
general stress adjusting to pregnancy and/or a new baby, are common
experiences, but are different from depression. Depression is longer
lasting and can affect not only the mother, but her relationship with
her baby, the child's development, the mother's relationship with her
partner and with other members of the family.
Almost 10 per cent
of women will experience depression during pregnancy. This increases to
16 per cent in the first three months after having a baby.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar
disorder used to be known as 'manic depression' because the person
experiences periods of depression and periods of mania, with periods of
normal mood in between.
Mania is like the opposite of depression
and can vary in intensity – symptoms include feeling great, having lots
of energy, having racing thoughts and little need for sleep, talking
fast, having difficulty focusing on tasks, and feeling frustrated and
irritable. This is not just a fleeting experience. Sometimes the person
loses touch with reality and has episodes of psychosis. Experiencing
psychosis involves hallucinations (seeing or hearing something that is
not there) or having delusions (e.g. the person believing he or she has
superpowers).
Bipolar disorder seems to be most closely linked to
family history. Stress and conflict can trigger episodes for people
with this condition and it's not uncommon for bipolar disorder to be
misdiagnosed as depression, alcohol or drug abuse, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or schizophrenia.
Diagnosis depends
on the person having had an episode of mania and, unless observed, this
can be hard to pick. It is not uncommon for people to go for years
before receiving an accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It can be
helpful for the person to make it clear to the doctor or treating health
professional that he or she is experiencing highs and lows. Bipolar
disorder affects approximately 2 per cent of the population.
Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic
disorder is often described as a milder form of bipolar disorder. The
person experiences chronic fluctuating moods over at least two years,
involving periods of hypomania (a mild to moderate level of mania) and
periods of depressive symptoms, with very short periods (no more than
two months) of normality between. The duration of the symptoms are
shorter, less severe and not as regular, and therefore don't fit the
criteria of bipolar disorder or major depression.
Dysthymic disorder
The
symptoms of dysthymia are similar to those of major depression but are
less severe. However, in the case of dysthymia, symptoms last longer. A
person has to have this milder depression for more than two years to be
diagnosed with dysthymia.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD
is a mood disorder that has a seasonal pattern. The cause of the
disorder is unclear; however it is thought to be related to the
variation in light exposure in different seasons. It's characterised by
mood disturbances (either periods of depression or mania) that begin and
end in a particular season. Depression which starts in winter and
subsides when the season ends is the most common. It's usually diagnosed
after the person has had the same symptoms during winter for a couple
of years. People with Seasonal Affective Disorder depression are more
likely to experience lack of energy, sleep too much, overeat, gain
weight and crave for carbohydrates. SAD is very rare in Australia and
more likely to be found in countries with shorter days and longer
periods of darkness, such as in the cold climate areas of the Northern
Hemisphere.
Remember, depression is treatable and effective treatments are available. The earlier you seek help, the better.
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