Depressive Disorders Classification

A Depressive Disorder

A depressive disorder is a form of mental illness that affects one’s emotions, moods, and physical well-being. It covers a person’s feeding, sleeping, emotions, and self-reflection, among other things. Individuals suffering from a mental condition will rebound from the disease by simply “working consistently with their day-to-day tasks.” If not exposed to adequate diagnosis or care, the symptoms can last for a short or long period of time, even up to a year. However, when the disease is exposed to the early and adequate intervention, often people will be helped to leave (Cowen, 2012).

Types of Depressive Disorders

Dysthymia, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) are examples of depressive disorders. Examples of depressive illness consist of, Dysthymia, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Seasonal Affective Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Postnatal depression, and Cyclothymia. Another type of depression is the major depressive disorder which is evident by major depression episodes. Its main signs and symptoms may include sad mood, desolate self-esteem, gloominess especially in activities that were previously liked, reduced socializing, eating and sleeping habits, and even feelings of self-hopelessness and worthlessness. ADHD- Home Test Kits and Concentration are the important Home Diagnostic Testing for both children and adults suspected to be having the MDD.

Complications of Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder complications are secondary conditions or other diseases that are caused by it which may consist of reduced performances at work or in school and even problems with one’s relationship. It is important to look into the essential causes of major depressive disorder which in this case includes very stressful activities, as the affected persons may perceive. Side effects of MDD if not treated in time includes, losing one’s job, failed relationships, complete changes in individual behavior, disastrous, helpless and hopeless feelings. Also, includes extreme negative patterns in one’s feelings and thinking, Socio-environment influences the illness by between 60-80% of the period, Marital issues mostly in women may also cause their depression since women value so many intimate relationships as compared to men who may easily opt out of the troubled relationships and parental styles.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also referred to as bipolar, is an extreme mental disorder which commonly develops as periods of very intense euphoria or mania, which alternates with depressive episodes. Bipolar is classified as a mood disorder, which severely interferes with a person’s behavior and the ability to efficiently perform everyday activities. Although the primary cause of this type of is not yet known, it is believed that there is a genetic link to its cause whereby the affected have a close relative with the same disorder. It may also be related to a chemical imbalance in ones the brain and or deficiency of the related hormones. Other conditions may include self-deprivation of sleep, use of antidepressant drugs and hypothyroidism. Bipolar affects both sexes equally. It is known by severe, unpredictable behaviors and mood swings which may also result in energy and functioning. Bipolar also results in periods of intense mania, resulting in extremely elevated moods, increased level of energy and the patient’s excitability. Its symptoms also consist of increased impulsivity, thoughts, and abnormal increase in talking behavior. Complications of this illness include paranoia or delirium. The main goal treatment for bipolar patients is to try to have minimized mood swings and all the other symptoms so as to live functional and relatively productive lives. Bipolar disorder has no known treatment, and its goal treatment above should be life-term so as to control the symptoms effectively.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

The Seasonal affective disorder (SAD); it is a disorder which may be seasonally experienced. SAD, also referred, winter depression being that its symptoms feature mainly winter when it may also be severe times whereby it starts showing its signs around autumn when the days start to get reduced. It becomes critical typically from the month of December to the month of February. Improvements are seen towards the spring and summer which frequently leads to its disappearance. It is sometimes recurrent, especially in autumn and winter. The SAD symptoms include reduced interest or pleasure in day to day activities, a persistent irritability and depressed moods, feelings a lot of despair, guilt and even worthlessness. The affected persons may also feel lethargic in energy, sleeping problems both at night and daytime which way either be reduced or prolonged, desire carbohydrates and even gaining weight. It is believed that low sunlight may prevent a brain part known as hypothalamus from functioning efficiently; it interferes with the production of melatonin which is hormonal type responsible for causing sleepiness. In persons with SAD, this hormone may be produced over the optimal level; Hormone Serotonin production which affects one’s appetite, sleep and mood. Inadequate sunlight may cause low levels of the serotonin, which intern causes circadian rhythm i.e. internal clock of the body and the one’s depressive feel. Sunlight is required by the body to help control the various essential functions, like the time one wakes up; therefore, weak winter sunlight may affect one’s body clock and bring about the SAD symptoms. Lifestyle measures, light therapy, and talking therapies are some of the known treatments for SAD.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia which includes the mild depression and Chronic; - this is a type of disorder that is gentle but more dangerous than some of the commonly known ones. Those affected by this kind of depression could suffer from some forms of persistent depressed mood together with related symptoms that may include loss of interest in life and feelings of fatigue. Leading causes of the broader categories of Dysthymia includes Mood, Depression, Mental, Psychological, behavioral, Disorders, and Mental health conditions among others.

References

Cowen, P. J. (2012). Classification of depressive disorders. In Behavioral Neurobiology of Depression and Its Treatment (pp. 3-13). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Goodwin, F. K., & Jamison, K. R. (2007). Manic-depressive illness: bipolar disorders and recurrent depression (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press.