Definition of depressive episode

What characterizes a depressive episode? How to help someone during a depressive episode? An untreated depressive episode typically lasts about months or longer. For example, hypothyroidism can mimic many features of depression and is sometimes treated incorrectly as a depressive episode when, in fact, it represents a deficiency of thyroid hormone.

When experiencing a depressive episode, a person can try to make changes to their thoughts and behaviors to help improve their mood.

You can refer to an event or a short period of time as an episode if you want to suggest that it is important or unusual, or has some particular quality. Depressive means relating to depression or to being depressed. Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.

Sufferers primarily have a depressed mood for two weeks or more, and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities, accompanied by other symptoms such as feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, anxiety, worthlessness, guilt and irritability, changes in appetite, problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions, and thoughts of suicide. A major depressive episode is a period characterized by the symptoms of major depressive disorder. Depression is a serious disorder that can take a terrible toll on you and your family.

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. The definition of a depressive episode is a period of depression that persists for at least two weeks. The diagnosis hinges on the presence of single or recurrent major depressive episodes. Further qualifiers are used to classify both the episode itself and the course of the disorder.

Major depressive episode. Depending on the severity of symptoms, your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist may recommend treatment with an antidepressant. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elate and energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very sa “down,” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Single episode depression is an episode where a person not with a history of depressive episodes has one.

Treatment is different for these people compared to people with several episodes. SINGLE- EPISODE DEPRESSION: Joe suffered single episode depression and he had never had it beofre. Related Psychology Terms. Those who suffer from depression experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed.

Sleeping problems, like too much or too little. Feeling agitated or alternatively, feeling slowed down. Fatigue and loss of energy. Difficulty concentrating. Thinking of death or suicide.

These people tend to suffer from depressive symptoms which may resolve on their own and the person may feel and behave normally for days, weeks, or even years, before showing signs of another episode of depression. If left untreate the symptoms and risk of suicide increases with every episode of depression. A depressive disorder is a condition that involves the body, moo and thoughts. It disables motivation and interferes with normal functioning of daily life.

It typically causes pain.