•+Depression

(Vincent van Gogh, 1890)

**What is depression?**

 **DSM-IV Criteria for Depression (** **Depression Today, n.d.)**

A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.


 * 1) Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful).
 * 2) Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others).
 * 3) Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
 * 4) Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
 * 5) Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
 * 6) Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
 * 7) Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).
 * 8) Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others).
 * 9) Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a //Mixed Episode//.

C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).

E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**What are some different types of depression?**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Different types of depression have different symptoms. These include:

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**• Seasonal Affective Disorder**

"This type of depression is usually affected by the weather and time of the year" <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1999).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**• Postpartum Depression** "This occurs in women, following the birth of a child. About 13 per cent of women will experience this type of depression" <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1999).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**• Depression with Psychosis** "In some cases, depression may become so severe that a person loses touch with reality and experiences hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing people or objects that are not really there) or delusions (beliefs that have no basis in reality)" <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1999).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**• Dysthymia** "This is a chronically low mood with moderate symptoms of depression" <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1999).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**Who does Depression affect?**

Depression can affect anyone and at any time. Depression can affect males and females. It can also affect any age group such as; elderly, youth, adults, and children.