As you are now clear about depression then the next question comes into mind is “what kind or types of depression are there?” Depression is of many types, so knowing about you have depression is just the beginning. These types are sometimes distinguished by their duration, prevalent features and severity of symptoms. Although there is no specific count of types of depression yet we can try to categorize it in most popular types. Most of these types are defined by Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), an American Psychiatric Association publication which describes the standard criteria for different types of psychiatric disorders.
Here is the list of possible types of depression and detail of each will be discussed later in the post.
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Dysthymic Disorder
- Manic Depression
- Post Partum Depression
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Anxiety Depression
- Atypical Depression
- Chronic Depression
- Double Depression
- Endogenous Depression
- Situational Depression or Reactive Depression
- Agitated Depression
- Psychotic Depression
- Melancholic Depression
- Catatonic Depression
Major Depressive Disorder:
Major Depressive Disorder sometimes called as Major Depression or Clinical Depression or even Unipolar depression is the most serious type of depression regarding its symptoms count and their severity. Significant individual differences are there but much of them are very common. Symptoms for major depressive episode last most of the day repeating everyday for at least two weeks. It deals with depressed mood or considerable decrease in interest or pleasure in all or most activities. Additional symptoms could be significant weight loss/gain or increase/decrease in appetite, difficulty in sleeping, changes in movement associated with mental tension, fatigue or energy loss, feeling worthless for any reason, difficulty in making decision by lacking concentration and thinking. An extreme situation may be of repeatedly thinking about death or suicide or planning about it. If a person experiences the majority of these symptoms for longer than a two-week period, they may be diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
Dysthymic Disorder:
Dysthymic Disorder is also known as simply Dysthymia. Dysthymia (pronounced Dis-THIGH-me-uh) comes from the Greek roots dys, meaning “ill” or “bad,” and thymia, meaning “mind” or “emotions.” Dysthymic Disorder is a low to moderate level of depression that persists for at least two years, and often longer. Its symptoms are less severe than major depression but owing to their endurance and resistant to treatment it is worth importance. Dysthymia patients often develop major depression at some time during the course of their depression.
Manic Depression:
Manic depression also known as Bipoler disorder and includes the periods of depression and mania. These two states cycle between each other rapidly or one state (mania) can be present without any depressive episodes. (In case if youd don’t know about MANIA, Mania is the medical condition where patients suffer severely elevated moods at all times. Normally it is associated with mood swings when the patient goes through extremely elevated or happy mood at one time and at the other time may feel depressed). Manic episodes may consist of a persistent elevated or irritable mood that is of extreme level and could last for at leat one week. This depression deals with high and low mood swings alongwith other significant symptoms not present in other depressions.
Post Partum Depression:
Post partum depression occurs after having a baby. Depressive symptoms usually begin within four weeks of giving birth and is variable in severety and duration. The cycle of pregnancy brings about many harmonal changes or shifts in the wormen body. Mood is severly affected by these dramatic and swift shifts. This is commonly known as the “baby blues.” Postpartum depression can be more than just a case of the blues, however. It can range from mild symptoms that go away without treatment all the way up to postpartum psychosis, which left untreated, may be responsible for tragic murders of children.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Depressive disorder type which signified by episodes of major depression at a specific time of the year. It may be any season winter or fall doesn’t matter. So if someone is experiencing depression, sleepiness, weight gain and carbohydrate cravings during the winter months, but is feeling well as soon as spring returns, then the guy could be diagonized with depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Anxiety Depression:
This is basically different from depression and is like some addition to depression. In this case the individual also shows symptoms for anxiety along with depression symptoms. Depression plus Anxiety creates another category for depression simply defined as Anxiety Depression.
Atypical Depression:
Atypical Depression is slightly different from Major Depressions and the individual make changes in the mood reacting to the positive events in the surroundings. People who are victim of Atypical Depression believe that outside events control their mood. It could be praise, attention or success. This depression may last for very long time or forever so it can be said it is also sub type of Dysthymia. Symptoms for atypical depression includes fatigue, oversleeping, overeating and weight gain.
Chronic Depression:
It is basically the case of major depression when the symptoms show for at least two years constantly.
Double Depression:
If an individual has Major depression episode along with Dysthymia then these two depressions make him/her fall into the category of Double Depression.
Endogenous Depression:
This is special kind of depression because in the kind of depression there is no apparent symptoms. Its like something coming from inside the body and thats why it is name das Endogenous Depression.
Situational or Reactive Depression:
Situational or Reactive Depression is basically Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood. Some specific situation or event introduces to the victim major depressive order. But technically its not Major Depression because it is just temporary response to the event or situation. It can be removed very shortly after that situation or event becomes outdated or loses its affect. For example if someone loses his/her job then temporarily depression will over come him/her buat as soon as the job is found again this depression is no longer there so it can not fall into the category of Major Depressive Disorder and hence come into the category of Situational or Reactive Depression.
Agitated Depression:
Kind of major depressive disorder which is characterized by agitation such as physical and emotional restlessness, irritability and insomnia, which is the opposite of many depressed individuals who have low energy and feel slowed down physically and mentally.
Psychotic Depression:
Its the depression type when patient shows symptoms that are of psychotic in nature. Symptoms are fake and unbelievable. If an individual is hearing strange voice and is making false believes then the depression associated may be called as Psychotic.
Melancholic Depression:
Melancholic Depression is a sub type Major Depression. The individual may lose pleasure in every routine activity and becomes slow in response to the temporary positive events in the surroundings.
Catatonic Depression:
It is also a sub type Major Depression and is identified by Excessive Movement (Purposeless), High resistance to instructions/suggestions, Loss of voluntary movement and inability to react to one’s environment and inappropriate voluntary movements and involuntarily repeating someone’s words meaninglessly.
Final Note:
Depression can be cured, but it is important to take care of every aspect of your life. For example, having a healthy balanced diet definitely helps in fighting depression. Try to avoid comfort eating, reduce the amount of high-fat and high-glycaemic meals in favour of more natural food, such as: vegetables, cereal, pulses, fruit and red meat fish. It is also better to avoid coffee and alcohol in general. Take your time and savour every mouthful, leaving watching TV or mobile gaming for a different time.