What is Major Depressive Disorder?

Major depressive disorder is one of the most commonly occurring mental health disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 5% of adults globally currently suffer from depression. While 5% may seem small, this still means that hundreds of millions of people worldwide.¹

Even though major depressive disorder is very common, figuring out treatment that works for every person can be difficult. What makes major depressive disorder treatment somewhat complicated is the fact that there are several different types of the disorder, each one varying in the severity of its symptoms. This means there is a vast amount of different treatment options for those who have major depressive disorder than can consist of psychotherapy, medication, and other avenues of treatment.

A Deeper Look Into Major Depressive Disorder

Most everyone goes through seasons in life when they may feel sad due to current situations or circumstances, such as the passing of a loved one, losing their job, going through a breakup, or many other situations. While feeling sad or grieving is a normal life process, it is generally expected that after a number of days, weeks, or even months, the individual is able to go back to functioning normally, or close to what is normal for them. For those with major depressive disorder, this is often not the case, which is what differentiates major depressive disorder from “regular” grief and sadness.

Unlike grief or sadness, major depressive disorder is a mental illness that is usually characterized by prolonged periods of mood depression and feelings of intense sadness that could last anywhere from several weeks to months. The symptoms of depressive disorder are usually so intense that they interrupt and negatively impact the daily functioning of affected individuals.²

Scope of Major Depressive Disorder

According to the WHO, it is estimated that major depressive disorder will be the leading cause of disease burden globally by 2030, a pointer to just how much of a problem depression disorder currently is and can be without proper medical intervention.³

How is Depression Diagnosed?

If you suspect you are currently suffering from severe depressive disorder, the first thing to do is get a diagnosis from your healthcare provider. Your doctor will ask you several questions about the symptoms you’re feeling. Your doctor will also look at your medical history and conduct a thorough physical or mental examination to rule out the possibility that some other underlying medical illness could be causing the symptoms you’re experiencing.

Your doctor will then compare the results of the tests and symptoms observed with what is stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) before finally diagnosing whether or not you have depressive disorder or another mental condition.

Causes of Major Depressive Disorder

Although the exact cause of major depressive disorder is still unknown, several different factors could result in the development of a depressive disorder in an individual. These causes of major depressive disorder often include alcohol or drug use, particular types of medications (including steroids), abuse during childhood, or certain medical conditions like cancer or hypothyroidism.⁴

Types of Depression

There are several types of major depressive disorder, and each of these has its own specific set of signs and symptoms that can impact the individual. For example, the types of major depression include:

Psychotic Depression: Psychotic depression is a type of severe depressive disorder usually characterized by an individual experiencing feelings of psychosis (such as hallucinations and delusions) in addition to the signs and symptoms of major depressive disorder. Symptoms like inability to focus and difficulty in thinking may also accompany psychotic depression.⁵
Melancholic Depression: Melancholic depression is a severe form of major depressive disorder characterized by very intense melancholia. This intense level of melancholia results in a total lack of enjoyment in everything that once was pleasurable.⁶
Catatonic Depression: Catatonic depression is a massive depressive disorder that usually causes affected individuals to remain immobile and mute for extended periods. Abnormal or excessive motor signs may also accompany catatonic depression. ⁷

Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment of Depression

Early intervention in cases of massive depressive disorder is very vital to the effective treatment of depression, so you need to be able to identify the signs of major depressive disorder properly. The common signs of major depressive disorder include the following:

Negative thinking
Agitation
Inability to focus
Irritability
Exhaustion and lethargy

Treatment

One aspect to note about major depressive disorder is that despite its potential severity, it is very treatable. In fact, statistics have shown that up to 90% of people with depression symptoms end up responding positively to treatment. Treatment for major depressive disorder usually involves the combination of two different treatment approaches, which are the use of medications and psychotherapy.⁸

Medications

Antidepressants are a class of medications that are used in the treatment and management of depression disorder symptoms. They usually elicit their effects by restoring the proper balance of some specific neurotransmitters in the brain. However, antidepressant drugs usually require an extended period of consistent dosing before their effects can be felt, so even if you don’t feel like they are working, ensure you do not stop your dosing regimen without first consulting with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Some classes of antidepressants used in treating depression disorder symptoms include:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Tricyclic antidepressants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Serotonin modulators

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy as a treatment approach involves using “therapeutic approaches” to identify and deal with underlying emotional and mental issues that may be responsible for the depressive symptoms being felt. Psychotherapy usually involves talking with a skilled and experienced mental health professional in therapy sessions that may range from months to years in length depending on what the patient needs. Some common examples of major depressive disorder therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

These two psychotherapy approaches help many patients who have major depressive disorders, but there are other options as well, including support groups, family therapy, inpatient or outpatient care, and dialectical behavioral therapy.

Treatment Opportunities at Pacific Beach Health

Major depressive disorder can feel all encompassing. At Pacific Beach Health, we can help you to regain autonomy over your own life, equipping you with the necessary tools and support to achieve and maintain the long-term wellness you deserve.

Resources

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
https://www.verywellmind.com/major-depressive-disorder-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-5270926
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559078/
https://www.healthline.com/health/clinical-depression#causes-and-risk-factors
https://www.verywellmind.com/psychotic-depression-1066607
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-melancholia-379852
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/catatonic-depression
https://www.verywellmind.com/major-depressive-disorder-treatment-5271663

What is the Prognosis

for Major Depressive Disorder?

Depression is very different from grief or sadness. Read on to learn more about the causes and treatment of major depressive disorder.

What is Major Depressive Disorder?

A Deeper Look Into Major Depressive Disorder

Scope of Major Depressive Disorder

How is Depression Diagnosed?

Causes of Major Depressive Disorder

Types of Depression

Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment of Depression

Treatment

Medications

Psychotherapy

Treatment Opportunities at Pacific Beach Health

Resources

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