Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
What is the exact definition of depression?
Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, it is estimated that 5% of adults suffer from the disorder. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. It can also disturb sleep and appetite. Tiredness and poor concentration are common.
What is depression definition DSM 5?
The DSM-5 outlines the following criterion to make a diagnosis of depression. The individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
What are the 7 causes of depression?
In this section you can find information on the following possible causes of depression:
- childhood experiences.
- life events.
- other mental health problems.
- physical health problems.
- genetic inheritance.
- medication, recreational drugs and alcohol.
- sleep, diet and exercise.
What is the definition of depression in psychology? – Related Questions
What are criteria for depression?
Major Depressive Disorder
Diminished interest or loss of pleasure in almost all activities (anhedonia) Significant weight change or appetite disturbance: For children, this can be failure to achieve expected weight gain. Sleep disturbance (insomnia or hypersomnia) Psychomotor agitation or retardation.
What are the DSM-5 subtypes of depression?
In addition, DSM-5 specifies several subtypes for episodes of persistent depressive disorder, including anxious distress, atypical features, melancholic features, mixed features, psychotic features, and peripartum onset. The diagnostic criteria for these subtypes are discussed elsewhere in this topic.
What are the symptoms of depression according to DSM-5?
In addition to depressed mood, symptoms include:
- Poor appetite or overeating.
- Insomnia or hypersomnia.
- Low energy or fatigue.
- Low self-esteem.
- Poor concentration or difficulty making decisions.
- Feelings of hopelessness.
What are the new depressive disorder diagnosis in DSM-5?
DSM-5 contains several new depressive disorders, including disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
What is MDD vs depression?
Answer From Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Clinical depression is the more-severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder.
What are the 4 main causes of depression?
Causes – Clinical depression
- Stressful events. Most people take time to come to terms with stressful events, such as bereavement or a relationship breakdown.
- Personality.
- Family history.
- Giving birth.
- Loneliness.
- Alcohol and drugs.
- Illness.
What are the 11 symptoms of depression?
Common Symptoms of Depression
- Consistently low mood.
- Disinterest or avoidance of once enjoyed hobbies.
- Trouble with concentration or memory.
- Significant changes in eating or sleeping patterns.
- Decreased self-care.
- Physical pains and additional health issues.
- Feeling pessimistic or hopeless.
- Increased irritability or anger.
How does depression affect the brain?
Depression causes the hippocampus to raise its cortisol levels, impeding the development of neurons in your brain. The shrinkage of brain circuits is closely connected to the reduction of the affected part’s function. While other cerebral areas shrink due to high levels of cortisol, the amygdala enlarges.
Does the brain heal after depression?
Dendrites are cellular extensions found in the neurons, or nerve cells. This suggests that depression is not an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder. Instead, its impact on the brain may be reversible, and the brain can heal.
Can your brain shut down from depression?
There’s growing evidence that several parts of the brain shrink in people with depression. Specifically, these areas lose gray matter volume (GMV). That’s tissue with a lot of brain cells. GMV loss seems to be higher in people who have regular or ongoing depression with serious symptoms.
What happens to the brain with untreated depression?
Depression may cause the release of glucocorticoid in the brain, a type of steroid that can damage the hippocampus and other areas of the central nervous system. When this occurs, you may experience symptoms associated with neurocognitive disorder (dementia), such as memory loss.
What is the brain lacking when you have depression?
People with clinical depression often have increased levels of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), an enzyme that breaks down key neurotransmitters, resulting in very low levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
Does depression affect your thinking?
Depression doesn’t just get in the way of being happy. It can also interrupt your ability to think. It hampers your attention, memory and decision-making abilities. You may find that your executive functions are limited, so you begin having trouble seeing your way through issues.
Can depression permanently change you?
A depression not only makes a person feel sad and dejected – it can also damage the brain permanently, so the person has difficulties remembering and concentrating once the disease is over. Up to 20 percent of depression patients never make a full recovery.
Can blood test show mental illness?
Mental health disorders including depression, schizophrenia, and anorexia show links to biological markers detected in routine blood tests, according to our new study of genetic, biochemical and psychiatric data from almost a million people.
How does depression affect memory?
Depression has been linked to memory problems, such as forgetfulness or confusion. It can also make it difficult to focus on work or other tasks, make decisions, or think clearly. Stress and anxiety can also lead to poor memory. Depression is associated with short-term memory loss.
