HEALTH: Depression Types – Volume 1
August 23, 2008 – 11:47 am
Depression is a medical illness that affects both body and mind. There are many different types and sub- types of the illness.
Here is the list of the depression types.
Major Depression (Clinical Depression): This is the most severe type of depression and can affect any person at any age. If it is not treated, the severity of the symptoms and frequency of the illness increase. Different types of treatment are available. Recent studies show that medication, electroconvulsive therapy and psychotherapy are three well established methods for major depression treatment.
Medication is very important for the treatment of major depression. However medication only treats the symptoms of the depression. It is the most important part of the treatment to treat psychological problems of the person with depression. So electroconvulsive therapy and psychotherapy are used for the mental health treatment and they help to change negative thinking of the patient. These treatments must be used in a combination for full and speedy recovery.
Symptoms:
• Feeling miserable and sad
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Crying spells
• Avoiding social interaction (isolation)
• Appetite loss or overeating
• Thoughts of death and suicide
• Poor concentration and judgement
• Sleep disruption ( not enough or too much sleep)
• Having physical aches and pains that do not respond to treatment
• Fatigue and decreased energy
Chronic Depression (Dysthymia): Chronic depression is the less severe form of depression. It lasts a long time and can not easily be cured. This depression type is experienced more frequently by women than men. There are a lot of treatment options for the people with chronic depression however recent studies suggest that the combination of medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment method for the illness.
Symptoms:
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Problems with concentration
• Thoughts of death
• Decreased sex drive
• Poor appetite or overeating
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Discernable or mental sluggishness
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Bipolar Depression (Manic Depression): This type of depression generally begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. It is one of the chronic depression types. Because most of the people with bipolar depression have one manic episode and in the future they will have additional manic episodes. The moods of the patients change from moment to moment or day to day. Mood cycles sometimes cause problems in daily life.
Symptoms:
• Abuse of drugs (especially sleeping medications, alcohol and cocaine)
• Poor judgement
• Increased sexual desire
• Increased energy and activity
• Speaking very quickly
• Mood cycles (Short temper)
• Elation
• Being easily distracted
• Overeating
• Insomnia
• Having very interesting and grandiose ideas
Postpartum Depression: This type of depression occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. It is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and the exact cause of postpartum depression is fast changes in hormone levels during pregnancy or after childbirth. Talk therapy and medicine are common treatment methods for the illness.
Symptoms:
• Eating too little or too much
• Crying a lot
• Avoiding social interaction (isolation)
• Feeling sad, hopeless or overwhelmed
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Poor concentration or judgement
• Having headaches, chest pains and heart palpitations.
Read Depression Types Volume 2
Also read: What causes depression.
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