When many people hear the word depression, they think of feeling sad or blue, but the reality is that there are many types of depression as well as symptoms. The types of depression have been identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or DSM) and are used by practitioners for diagnosis and treatment. Knowing the distinct categories can help you understand better the type of depression that you or a loved one is suffering from.
Major Depressive Disorder
This type is also known as clinical depression or major depression. In order to have this type of depression, an individual needs to have either a depressed mood or a lack of interest in otherwise pleasurable activities for at least two weeks. Other symptoms that can be present include changes in appetite and weight, changes in sleep (sleeping too much or insomnia), fatigue, and thinking about or attempting suicide. Additional symptoms can be present as well.
Dysthymic Disorder
This type of depression is characterized by an almost constant depressed mood for at least two years with at least two of the following symptoms: changes in eating patterns (too much or too little), sleeping too much or too little, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and feeling hopeless. This type of depression is characterized by persistent depression, but the symptoms are generally less severe than with a major depression.
Manic Depression or Bipolar
Manic depression includes periods of both depression and mania. Individuals can cycle rapidly between mania and depression, have slow cycles, or have only mania. Mania consists of an elevated mood that is extreme. This can include an elevated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, and involvement in risky behavior.
In addition to these three major types of depression, others exist as well including seasonal affective disorder, post partum depression, anxiety depression, atypical depression, and situational depression. Each of these categories has a number of symptoms in common with the three major types, although there are generally specific symptoms or situational elements in each. For example, post partum depression occurs in women after they have given birth and is related to fluctuating hormone levels that occur after pregnancy.
Although many of the treatments will be the same for the different types of depression, knowing more about the specific ones can help you better understand what is occurring. Some types, like bipolar disorder, use different combination of medications to help control the depression and mania. Thus, learning more about the diagnosis that you or a loved one has received can benefit you in the long run.
