Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the more severe form of depression. It’s characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that don’t go away on their own.
In order to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must experience five or more of the following symptoms over a 2-week period:
feeling depressed most of the day
loss of interest in most regular activities
significant weight loss or gain
sleeping a lot or not being able to sleep
slowed thinking or movement
fatigue or low energy most days
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
loss of concentration or indecisiveness
recurring thoughts of death or suicide
There are different subtypes of major depressive disorder, which the American Psychiatric Association refers to as “specifiers.”
These include trustedsource:
atypical features
anxious distress
mixed features
peripartum onset, during pregnancy or right after giving birth
seasonal patterns
melancholic features
psychotic features
catatonia
Persistent depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) used to be called dysthymia. It’s a milder, but chronic, form of depression.
In order for the diagnosis to be made, symptoms must last for at least 2years trusted source. PDD can affect your life more than major depression because it lasts for a longer period.
It’s common for people with PDD to:
lose interest in normal daily activities
feel hopeless
lack productivity
have low self-esteem
Depression can be treated successfully, but it’s important to stick to your treatment plan.
Read more about why depression treatment is important.
Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your healthcare professional about possible options.
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