The 5 types of symptoms in depression

These are the main types of depression symptoms, classified.

Most of us have heard of depression, know what it is or, at the very least, know someone who suffers from it or has suffered from it. But do we know what its symptoms are and how they can be classified?

In this article we will know the main types of symptoms of depression according to their nature.. These affect: mood, motivation and behavior, cognition, physiology and interpersonal relationships.

5 types of symptoms in depression

Before describing what are the 5 types of symptoms in depression, we are going to describe, in a generic way, what this mental disorder consists of.

Depression ("major depressive disorder" in the current DSM-5) is a mood disorder, which involves a number of symptoms (according to DSM-5 criteria, a minimum of 5 from a list). These symptoms will be explained in the course of the article, but it should be mentioned that it is a prerequisite that these symptoms last a minimum of 2 weeks..

In addition, the person must have undergone a change in the way he or she functions, as evidenced by a depressed mood or loss of interest in things or a decrease in pleasure or motivation.

As we shall see, depression includes much more than sadness or lack of illusion, as is often thought.It can also involve feelings of rage, anger, cognitive disturbances, irritability, psychophysiological symptoms, etc.

We find up to 5 types of symptoms in depression, according to their nature, affected area (of the person or life) and characteristics. We will see them below.

1. Mood symptoms

The first group of the 5 types of symptoms in depression are mood symptoms, which affect mood, and which are perhaps the best known.. These include the following.

1.1. Sadness

Sadness is the central feature of depression. Most (but not all) people who suffer from depression feel sadness, even though it is a completely normal and adaptive emotion..

Although it is a completely normal and adaptive emotion (we are all sad from time to time), in depression this feeling appears along with others, so it is not enough to diagnose depression, logically.

1.2. Dejection

Dejection, another mood symptom in depression, is a state in which the person is immersed, characterized by the loss of physical or even physical strength. loss of physical or even moral strengthas well as their energy or spirits.

1.3. Unhappiness

Unhappiness is also part of the mood symptoms of depression, precisely because it has to do with mood; it translates into a feeling of not enjoying things, of not being well and, in short, of not being happy nor to be able to be it.

1.4. Anxiety

Anxiety is also a very frequent symptom, typically associated with depression. This can manifest itself in different ways (and to different degrees), through: feelings of suffocation or suffocation, dizziness, nausea, uncertainty, irritability, stress, malaise, aches, pains and pains in the stomach.stress, discomfort, stomach aches, tummy aches, etc.

1.5. Feeling of emptiness

Another key symptom in depression is the feeling of emptiness (which appears in other disorders, such as Borderline Personality Disorder).

It consists, as its name suggests, in feeling an internal emptiness that is very difficult to fill; it is a sensation related to the "no-sense" of things and of life.and a lack of enthusiasm for everything.

1.6. Emotional anesthesia

Emotional anesthesia appears especially in severe cases of depression. It implies not feeling anything: neither joy, nor sadness, nor anger... It would be like being in a state of affective dullness, where nothing affects us and nothing worries us. It is a really serious symptom because it prevents us from processing what is happening to us.

2. Motivational and behavioral symptoms.

The second of the 5 types of symptoms in depression are the motivational and behavioral symptoms.

2.1. Inhibition

Inhibition is the avoidance of doing the things we used to do; it is a difficulty in acting, in a difficulty in taking action, for example when interacting with others.. We are like withdrawn, closed in ourselves.

2.2. Apathy

Apathy in depression is a lack of enthusiasm for life in general, and translates as a generalized state of disinterest coupled with a lack of motivation to do things. and a lack of motivation to get things done. It makes us feel indifferent to any stimulus coming from the outside. It is a very frequent symptom.

2.3. Anhedonia

Anhedonia, another very frequent symptom, consists of the inability to experience pleasure. It is especially noticeable in things that before the depression did give us pleasure or satisfaction..

2.4. Lack of motivation

Nothing motivates us, nothing makes sense. We find it very difficult to do things (even getting out of bed in the morning).

2.5. Psychomotor retardation

A psychomotor retardation may also appear (our movements are slower, e.g., walking, moving, etc.).for example to walk, to move in general...). It can even appear a total immobility.

2.6. Agitation

On the other hand, agitation (state of excitement or exaggerated nervousness) may appear.

2.7. Stupor

Characterized by mutism (not speaking) and/or paralysis.. Here our ability to respond to stimuli decreases.

3. Cognitive symptoms

In depression there are usually no alterations in verbal production or comprehension, but there are alterations in other functions.

3.1. Impaired performance and formal deficits

Performance is impaired in the following:

• Attention, memory and mental speed.
• Executive and automatic effort and control (under certain stressful conditions).

3.2. Circular and ruminative thinking

Circular, ruminative and Circular, ruminative and even obsessive thoughts..

3.3. Alteration in content

Alterations in the content of thought are also notorious, and are translated into:

• Negative triad (Aaron Beck): affecting one's view of oneself, the world and the future
• Self-loathing, guilthopelessness, suicidal ideation
• Delusions of ruin, of guilt, nihilistic.

To clarify at this point that generally the delusions that appear in depression are congruent with the state of mind (if they are not, the depression is even more serious).

4. Physical symptoms

People with more somatic/physical symptomatology are those who seek professional help the most.

4.1. Sleep problems

It is very difficult to sleep well when we suffer from depression.. Alterations such as insomnia (very frequent), nightmares, unrefreshing sleep, etc. appear.

4.2. Fatigue

We feel tired (although we do nothing) and fatigued.

4.3. Increase or decrease in appetite and weight

Hunger is also almost always alteredWe feel a lot of desire to eat or little desire to eat (and even zero desire). As a consequence, weight is also altered.

4.4. Decreased sexual desire

The libido (sexual desire) also decreases.

4.5. Diffuse bodily discomfort

Unpleasant and annoying sensations in the body.

4.6. Nausea, unsteadiness, dizziness

Symptoms that we have mentioned in the anxiety, which can also appear in can also appear in isolation.

5. Interpersonal symptoms

Finally, the last of the 5 types of symptoms in depression are interpersonal symptoms. These predict a worse course of depression, as well as a greater chronification of the disorder.

5.1. Impairment of social relationships

There is a deterioration in social relationships; Friendships are "lost" or deteriorate..

5.2. Decreased interest in people

This decrease of interest in people, in many occasions, ends up being bidirectional (the others stop being interested in us because we are depressed).

5.3. Rejection

Finally, there may also appear a rejection towards others, or by others (towards us).