Depression disease definition

What does depressed mean? Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.

To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. Fortunately, it is also treatable.

Whether depression is called a disorder , condition or disease matters to many who treat it. While there is certainly overlap between these terms, each has a unique definition that we can consider when trying to understand what exactly depression is. It can be long lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing a person’s ability to function at work or school,. Depression : definition.

When a sad mood lasts for a long time and interferes with normal, everyday functioning, you may be depressed. Major depressive disorder, also known simply as depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of low mood that is present across most situations. People may also occasionally have false beliefs or see or hear things that others cannot.

Atypical depression can result in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your life.

New research suggests that it is both. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it can occur for a variety of reasons. Some people experience depression during a serious medical illness.

Others may have depression with life changes such as a move or the death of a loved one. Persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthymia (dis-THIE-me-uh), is a continuous long-term (chronic) form of depression. You may lose interest in normal daily activities, feel hopeless, lack productivity, and have low self-esteem and an overall feeling of inadequacy.

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is an illness characterized by rapid and extreme mood swings, racing thoughts, changes in energy and behavior. It may feature sadness, difficulty in thinking and concentration and a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping. All diseases of modernity exhibit the sine qua non characteristic of an increasing incidence over time, because the environment continues to deviate further from the human EEA and individuals live longer within these novel environments.

Globally, more than 3million people of all ages suffer from depression. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. But despite the immense contribution of the medical model in diagnosing and treating disease ,. More specifically, the sadness of depression is characterized by a greater intensity and duration and by more severe symptoms and functional problems than is normal.

Some common triggers or causes of major depression include: Loss of a loved one through death, divorce, or separation. It is much more common in women. Social isolation or feelings of being deprived.

Personal conflicts in relationships, either with a significant other or a superior. Drops in neurotransmitter levels in the the brain, particularly the limbic system that controls emotions, are physical effects of this disease. The obesity epidemic and its underlying drivers of poor diet and sedentary lifestyle appear to directly and indirectly contribute to an increased risk. Sunlight and sleep deprivation characteristic of modern-day living are also candidate mediators of rising rates chronic disease and depression. Seasonal affective disorder is a period of major depression that most often happens during the winter months, when the days grow short and you get less and less sunlight.

It typically goes away in. People who have chronic illnesses must adjust to both the illness and its treatment. Their public life is usually one that’s “put together,” maybe even what some would call normal or perfect. A depression is a sustained downturn in economic activity characterized by high unemployment, decreased output and reduced levels of trade.

Low levels of consumer confidence during times of depression generally result in a severe drop in consumer demand and spending.