Clinical Depression and Types of Depression

Read about Depression:

WHAT IS DEPRESSION? DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION:

CLINICAL DEPRESSION:

Depression and Clinical Depression are two different things. Depression is just sadness, which everyone suffers at some point. Though, Clinical Depression is a disorder or illness, in which a person remains sad and despaired for an unreasonably longer time and which hampers his usual and daily activities as well as the persons; relatives or friends, involved with him. Doctors often use the term ‘clinical depression’ to describe major depression disorder.

There are many symptoms which differentiate between sadness and clinical depression. To read more about the symptoms of depression, click the below link:

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION:

Though, some of the notable criteria are that the sadness prolongs for more than 2 weeks, lack of interest in the activities once enjoyed, changes in sleep patterns, or weight or appetite. These are some of the notable criteria by which you can judge and differentiate between a person with mere sadness or a patient of a disorder – clinical depression.

TYPES OF DEPRESSION:

Clinical Depression is an expansive term and covers many different types of depression in it. Doctors often use the term clinical depression for ‘major depression’. Though, there are many different types too; involved, but not as much severe as the major depression. But since many of their symptoms are common, they find the similar group for identification.

1. Major Depression:

Major depression is basically clinical depression. It is also known as “unipolar disorder”. The symptoms are the same as some of the mentioned above. It is the most severe type of depression. It occurs in episodes, which may be a single episode, twice, or several times in a person’s life time. It is believed to affect the people below 40-45 years of age. It is severe enough to totally disturb and entangle one’s life and daily activities.

2. Dysthymic Disorder:

This is a less severe form of depression than ‘Major Depression’. It involves long term and chronic symptoms, although it is a less severe form but it still manages to prevent the patient to fully enjoy his/her life; it prevents him to ‘feel good’ and act at one’s full potential.

3. Bipolar Disorder:

Bipolar disorder is also known generally known as manic depression. It consists of periods of mania or state of depression. When the manic cycle goes up, a person feels over-energetic and talkative; it may increase their sexual activities with little or no sleep. At this stage, a person might feel that he has super-powers and can do anything, which may bring embarrassment and lack of ability to work at full-potential.

4. Seasonal Affective Disorder: (SAD)

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a depression which may directly relate to the weather and changes in weather and/or seasons or changes of seasons in a year, and/or brightness and duration of daylight. This sort of depression is often treated by artificial light therapy along with some medications. Exposure of bright sunlight or artificial lights can effectively cure depressed moods.