Types of depression: its symptoms, causes and characteristics

How does psychology classify the different types of depression? We find out.

It is common to feel down from time to time or to feel sad about some event that may have happened in your life. Sadness is part of life, an emotion that is not pathological in itself, although we associate it with displeasure and try to avoid it.

However, we must bear in mind that not all forms of discomfort are the same, and sometimes what we believe to be sadness intrinsic to the "normal" way of living life may be one of the various types of depression that exist.

In this article we will focus on just that topic: the main types of depression that scientific research in mental health has been outlining.

Depression, a multifactorial disorder

If the suffering is persistent, you are sad most of the time and it affects your daily life, you may be suffering from depressiondepression, a mood disorder that can seriously affect our lives and that also goes hand in hand with the risk of attempting to kill yourself or developing a lifestyle that is very harmful to your health in the medium and long term.

Moreover, depression is a very complex phenomenon, since it is not known what exactly causes it; the most accepted hypothesis is that it has a multifactorial origin, so it has both a behavioral component (i.e. coming from the way in which we interact with the environment and perceive what happens to us) and a Biological one (above all, based on genetic predispositions).

It is not always easy to know when this phenomenon has taken its toll on us, as there are several types of depression and therefore the ways in which its presence can be identified vary. However, all psychopathologies that can be grouped in this category have several common characteristics, as we shall see.

Let us see, then, what are the characteristics of these types of depression to know what we are facing in each case.

Types of depression and their characteristics

Depression is common nowadays, and it is common for people to resort to drugs to alleviate the pain felt with this pathology. The prozac (fluoxetine), also called the happiness drugis commonly consumed in developed societies.

However, the truth is that this set of psychopathologies can hardly be overcome simply by consuming drugs. This is due to their complexity and the diversity of their symptoms and characteristics. While the active principle of these drugs is always the same, depressive-type disorders interact in very unexpected ways with all the biological and contextual elements of each individual.

Drug treatment is advisable in severe cases, but psychotherapeutic support should always be available in order to manage and overcome types of depression (in psychological therapy, moreover, the risk of side effects is much lower). It is important to understand that psychologists can also help you overcome depression by using their techniques and methods adapted to you so that you adopt new habits that weaken the symptoms of this disorder and favor its disappearance depending on the way the disorder affects you.

But... what are the different types of depression and how do they usually express themselves through symptoms? Depression is part of the mood disorders and always affects our general well-being, our social interaction, our appetite and sexual desire, and many other behavioral aspects.It always affects our general well-being, our social interaction, our appetite and sexual desire, and many other behavioral aspects, but the way in which it does so depends on the particular type of depressive disorder we have developed. These variants of depression are listed below.

1. Major depression

Major depression is the most severe type of depression, as the name suggests, and is characterized by It is characterized by the high intensity of the symptoms, and by the fact that they are present practically all day long..

In this psychopathology there is the appearance of one or several depressive episodes of at least 2 weeks of duration. It usually begins during adolescence or young adulthood. The person suffering from this type of depression may experience phases of normal mood between depressive phases that may last for months or years.

It is classified within the unipolar episodes since there are no manic phases, and can produce very serious problems for the patient if not treated effectively. In fact, suicidal ideation can lead to death if it translates into actual actions to end one's own life.

Symptoms of major depression

These are some of the symptoms of major depression according to the manual DSM-IV-TR:

• Depressed mood most of the day, most days (1)
• Loss of interest in activities that were once rewarding (2)
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Low self-esteem
• Concentration problems and trouble making decisions
• Feelings of guilt
• Suicidal thoughts
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation on most days
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

According to the DSM-IV, there must be the presence of five (or more) of the above symptoms during a 2 week periodAccording to DSM-IV, one of the symptoms must be (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or ability to feel pleasure.

Types of major depression

Within major depression, there are different types of major depression:

2. Dysthymia

Within the types of depression, the dysthymia is less severe than major depression. It is a type of unipolar depression (it does not include manic symptoms) and interferes with the normal functioning and well-being of the individual suffering from it.

The essential characteristic of this disorder is that the patient feels depressed during most of the day, most days for at least 2 years. It can be said to be a kind of major depression "stretched" over time: it lasts longer, but is somewhat less intense in terms of the discomfort it generates and the danger it poses. You don't necessarily have to experience severe sadness, but often there is a feeling of purposelessness and lack of motivation, as if nothing matters.

Many people with dysthymia may also suffer from severe depressive episodes at some point in their lives.

The main symptoms of dysthymia are as follows:

3. Manic depression

This type of disorder, also called Bipolar Disorder is classified as a type of mood disorder. Although we can include it within the types of depression, it combines depressive states with states of mania, that is to say, there are extreme ups and downs. Bipolar disorder is a serious pathology, and should not be confused with a state of emotional instability.

The treatment is different from that of a major depression, and requires mood stabilizers (such as lithium), as well as professional support through psychotherapy and attention to the patient's family environment.

The depressive symptoms may include:

The manic symptoms may include

4. Seasonal Depressive Disorder (SAD)

This depressive state is called Seasonal Depressive Disorder (SAD) and is characterized by occurring during a certain time of the year, usually during the winter.

Symptoms usually intensify slowly in the late fall and winter months. These symptoms are very similar to those that occur in other types of depression:

There is also another variant of SAD and it is experienced by some people in the summer:

5. Psychotic depression

Psychotic depression is a subtype of major depression which occurs when a severe depressive illness includes some type of psychosis.. Unlike the other types of depression, it is characterized by the presence of psychotic symptoms: hallucinations and/or delusions that qualitatively alter the way in which reality is perceived.

6. Postpartum depression

Among the types of depression, we can include postpartum depression. It is characterized by the fact that it can occur shortly after childbirth.

This type of depression can occur up to a year after the woman has given birth, although it usually occurs within the first three months after delivery.

Some of the causes of postpartum depression include the following:

• Relapsing depressionAppearance of depressive symptoms in two or more episodes in the patient's life. The separation between an episode must be at least 2 months without presenting symptoms.
Symptoms of dysthymia
• • Loss or increased appetite
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Lack of energy or fatigue
  • Low self-esteem
  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
  • Feelings of hopelessness
Symptoms of manic depression
• • Persistent feelings of sadness
  • Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
  • Low self-esteem
  • Feeling of inadequacy
  • Excessive guilt
  • Desire to die
  • Loss of interest in usual or once enjoyable activities
  • Difficulty in relationships
  • Sleep disturbance (e.g., insomnia, hypersomnia)
  • Appetite or weight changes
  • Decreased energy
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Decreased ability to make decisions
  • Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
  • Frequent physical discomfort (e.g., headache, stomachache, fatigue)
  • Attempts or threats to run away from home
  • Hypersensitivity to failure or rejection
  • Irritability, hostility, aggression
  • Exaggerated self-esteem
  • Decreased need for rest and sleep
  • Increased distractibility and irritability
  • Excessive involvement in pleasurable and high-risk activities that can lead to painful consequences, e.g. provocative, destructive or anti-social behavior (sexual promiscuity, reckless driving, alcohol and drug abuse).
  • Increased talkativeness (e.g. increased rate of speech, rapid changes of subject, intolerance to interruptions).
  • Feelings of "excitement" or euphoria.
  • Marked mood swings, e.g. unusually happy or silly, uncharacteristically angry, agitated or aggressive
  • Increased sexual desire
  • Increased energy level
  • Poor common sense in sensible people
  • Hopelessness
  • Increased appetite with weight gain
  • Increased sleep (poor sleep is more common with other forms of depression).
  • Less energy and ability to concentrate
  • Loss of interest in work and other activities
  • Slowed movements
  • Social withdrawal
  • Sadness and irritability
  • Lack of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability and anxiety
  • Restlessness
Causes of postpartum depression
• • Changes at the bodily level of pregnancy and childbirth (e.g., due to hormonal change).
  • Changes in work and social relationships
  • Less time and freedom for yourself
  • Changes in the sleep-wake cycle due to childbirth
  • Concerns about your ability to be a good mother
Referencias bibliográficas:
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