Moving a body part toward the feet, such as pressing your shoulders downward.
When used to describe a mood, depression refers to feelings of sadness, despair, and discouragement. As such, depression may be a normal feeling state. The overt manifestations are highly variable and may be culture specific. Depression may be a symptom seen in a variety of mental or physical disorders, a syndrome of associated symptoms secondary to an underlying disorder, or a specific mental disorder. Slowed thinking, anhedonia, decreased energy and concentration, decreased purposeful physical activity, guilt, lack of appetite, weight loss, and sleep disturbance may be seen in the depressive syndrome. Dsm-iv-tr classifies depression by severity, recurrence, and association with hypomania, mania, or psychosis. Other categorizations, which are less often used today, divide depression into reactive depression and endogenous depression on the basis of precipitants or symptom clusters. Depression in children may be indicated by refusal to go to school, anxiety, excessive reaction to separation from parental figures, antisocial behavior, and somatic complaints.
Other categorizations divide depression into reactive and endogenous depressions on the basis of precipitants or symptom clusters. In DSM-III-R, an episode of the occurrence of an endogenous depressive symptoms cluster is generally referred to as a moderate or severe episode of a major depressive syndrome, melancholic type. In DSM-II, depression was referred to as psychotic when severe functional impairment occurred, but in DSM-III-R, psychosis refers to a reality testing, manifested by delusions or hallucinations.
Psychic disturbance, often assocated with low concentrations of dopamine and noradrenaline.
This state of mind, characterized by a loss of interest in life and feelings of sadness, may be caused by a life event, such as a bereavement, or may be a symptom of a depressive disorder.
A psychotic condition characterized by remorse, sadness, preoccupation with illness and death may lead to attempts at suicide.
A mental condition that prevents someone from carrying out the normal activities of life in the usual way.
A hollow on the surface of a part of the body.
Condition characterized by extreme sadness, helplessness, and social isolation. Part of the condition is known as bipolar disease.
Depression in childhood and adolescence encompasses a variety of specific diagnoses, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, cyclothymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. This entry focuses specifically on major depressive disorder, which is an affective disorder characterized by one or more episodes of depressed (or irritable) mood or loss of interest and pleasure in most activities for periods of at least 2 weeks (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). Psychosocial stressors may precipitate the onset of an episode of major depression, and major depressive disorder may entail either a single episode or recurrent episodes. In differentiating major depressive disorder from dysthymia, the mood disturbance in major depressive disorder is typically more severe and of shorter duration.
A type of mental disorder in which a person is overwhelmed with feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, dejection, apathy, fatigue, pessimism, and generally low feeling of well-being.
In anatomy, hollow or depressed area, downward placement.
Pervasive alteration in mood characterized by low mood, feelings of sadness, social withdrawal, psychomotor retardation, sleep disorder, despair, hopelessness, helplessness, and suicidal thoughts.
An abnormal and persistent mood state characterized by sadness, melancholy, slowed mental processes, and changes in such physical patterns as eating and sleeping. While feelings of being blue or down usually improve on their own after a few days, depression continues.
A mental state characterized by excessive sadness. Activity can be agitated and restless or slow and retarded. Behavior is governed by pessimistic or despairing beliefs, and sleep, appetite, and concentration are disturbed. There are several causes. Manic-depressive psychosis causes severe depressions, in which there may be delusions of being worthless, ill, wicked, or impoverished and hallucinations of accusing voices. Loss and frustration also cause depression, which may be prolonged and disproportionate in depressive neurosis. Treatment is with antidepressant drugs and/or psychotherapy. Severe cases may need electroconvulsive therapy.
Depression is a word that is regularly misused. Most people experience days or weeks when they feel low and fed up (feelings that may recur), but generally they get over it without needing to seek medical help. This is not clinical depression, best defined as a collection of psychological symptoms including sadness; unhappy thoughts characterised by worry, poor self-image, self-blame, guilt and low self-confidence; downbeat views on the future; and a feeling of hopelessness. Sufferers may consider suicide, and in severe depression may develop hallucinations and delusions.
Sadness and hopelessness that keeps a person from carrying out everyday activities.
An emotional state in which the person feels hopeless and worthless.
Depression is a psychological state characterized by profound feelings of sadness and a diminished interest in life. Individuals experiencing depression may also encounter disturbances in sleep patterns, loss of appetite, difficulties concentrating, and challenges in performing daily tasks.
Experiencing feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a diminished interest in life, accompanied by a noticeable decline in emotional well-being, characterizes the common phenomenon known as depression. It is not uncommon for individuals to encounter these emotions intermittently, typically in response to distressing circumstances. For instance, the loss of a close family member often triggers a natural state of sadness. However, when such feelings impact a person’s behavior and physical condition, it signifies that the symptom is indicative of a depressive disorder.
The presence of depression that emerges without any identifiable trigger, intensifies over time, and persists, can be observed as a component of various psychiatric disorders. In some cases, individuals who experience depression are eventually diagnosed with manic-depressive illness, also known as bipolar affective disorder. This condition is characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania, wherein individuals exhibit periods of excessively heightened mood and uncontrolled behavior.
The symptoms experienced can vary based on the severity of the condition. Mild depression is often characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, fluctuating mood, and unexplained bouts of crying. In more severe cases, depression can lead to a loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, social withdrawal, and difficulties with concentration. Individuals may experience slowed movement and thinking, or conversely, heightened anxiety. Those severely affected by depression may have thoughts of suicide and a profound sense of worthlessness. In extreme situations, hallucinations or delusions can occur.
Depression often lacks a singular obvious cause, with multiple factors potentially playing a role. It can be triggered by various physical illnesses, such as viral infections, or hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism. Hormonal changes following childbirth, known as postnatal depression, can also contribute to its onset. Certain medications, including oral contraceptives, may be associated with the condition. Inheritance may have a role in manic-depressive illness. Seasonal affective disorder, characterized by winter depression, is thought to be influenced by the extended periods of darkness during that time of the year.
In addition to the aforementioned causes, social and psychological factors can also contribute to depression. It is noteworthy that the occurrence of depression may be linked to the accumulation of various distressing changes or events in an individual’s life.
Depression stands as the most prevalent and significant psychiatric disorder. The World Health Organization classifies it as the fourth leading cause of disease globally. It is estimated that approximately one in six individuals will experience some form of depression during their lifetime, while one in 20 individuals will develop clinical depressive illness.
Depression is notably prevalent among individuals aged 50 and above, with a higher occurrence observed in women. In fact, twice as many women as men seek assistance for this condition. This gender disparity may stem from the fact that women are generally more inclined to seek help for their symptoms, while men may tend to manifest their distress through issues like alcohol abuse and violence.
Treatment for depression typically encompasses three primary forms, tailored to the type and severity of the illness.
Treatment typically involves the inclusion of psychotherapy, which can be administered on an individual basis or in a group setting. This form of treatment proves beneficial for individuals whose personality traits and life experiences serve as the primary contributors to their illness. Various types of therapy are available, ranging from counseling aimed at addressing practical issues to more structured approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychoanalysis.
Antidepressant medications have shown significant efficacy, with approximately seven in ten individuals experiencing positive responses when initially prescribed a suitable drug. It is important to note that antidepressants are non-addictive. However, it typically takes around two weeks for many medications to begin exerting their effects, and it is crucial to continue their use even after the symptoms of depression have subsided.
In the United Kingdom, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is not commonly utilized; however, it remains an effective treatment option for individuals experiencing severe and life-threatening depression. ECT has the potential to be life-saving, although it may result in temporary and mild memory impairment.
Depression commonly manifests as a recurring disorder, with as many as three-quarters of individuals who have required hospitalization for depression experiencing another episode within a 10-year period. Nonetheless, long-term use of antidepressant medication and engagement in psychological therapies can significantly diminish the risk of recurrence.
Although drug treatment has proven effective, the risk of suicide remains a grave concern, as nearly half of all deaths among individuals with recurrent depression are attributed to suicide. However, this risk can be significantly mitigated through the implementation of maintenance treatment involving antidepressant medication.
A reduction in the operational capacity of an organ; primarily pertains to an emotional disturbance characterized by feelings of sadness and social withdrawal.