Types
There are several types of depression:
- Major depression — a depressed mood that lasts for more than two weeks with distinct symptoms related to eating, sleeping, concentrating and more.
- Dysthymia — a chronic, low-grade form of depression that is not as severe as major depression.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — a pattern of depression that comes and goes with the change in season, usually occurring in the fall and winter.
- Postpartum depression — a serious depression that some women experience after childbirth.
- Bipolar disorder — a mood disorder in which people have extreme mood swings that include intense emotional highs (manias) and lows (depression). It requires a different treatment approach than depression does.
- Adjustment disorder — a depressed mood that occurs after a particularly stressful event.
- Depression with psychosis — a very serious but uncommon condition in which people have delusions or hallucinations along with depression symptoms.
Read more about major depression, dysthymia, SAD, postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and adjustment disorders.
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