Types
There are several types of depression:
- Major depression is marked by a depressed mood that lasts more than
two weeks and is accompanied by several distinct symptoms associated with
eating, sleeping, concentrating, etc.
- Dysthymia is a chronic, low-grade form of depression that is not
as severe as major depression.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a pattern of depression that
comes and goes with the change in season.
- Postpartum depression occurs in some women after childbirth.
- Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which people have extreme
mood swings that include emotional highs (manias) and lows (depression).
- Adjustment disorders with depressed mood are characterized by emotional
symptoms that occur after a particularly stressful event.
- Depression with psychosis is an extremely serious but uncommon condition
that is characterized by delusions or hallucinations.