A diagnosis of depression is based on a thorough understanding of your symptoms, medical history, and mental health history. This is to determine the type of depression you're experiencing.

It is normal to feel sad as a result of difficult life situations, such as losing your job or a loved one, but depression makes you feel constantly sad, uninterested in life, and can last for at least two weeks, and is accompanied by other symptoms other than sadness.

Some people think that depression is not a real health condition, but it is a real disease, with real symptoms.

So if you are interested in this disease and want to know all the details about it, follow this article.

Depression

Also known as major depressive disorder, depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness, loss of interest in things and activities you once enjoyed.

It is also a very common and serious disorder, and can negatively affect the following: –

• Thinking.
• The way you eat.
• Your sleep.
• Your actions.
• Your perception of the world.

People experience the disorder in different ways, and it can interfere with your daily work, leading to lost time and reduced productivity.

It can also affect and exacerbate some chronic health conditions, such as: –

• arthritis.
• الربو.
• السرطان.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• داء السكري.
• السمنة.

If left untreated, depression can get worse and last longer. Severe cases can lead to self-harm or death by suicide.

يمكنك قراءة Depressive disorders in children causes symptoms and treatment options

Symptoms of depression

There are many symptoms that indicate that you have the disorder. These symptoms range from mild to severe, and their severity and duration vary from person to person.

Symptoms include: –

• Sadness, anxiety, and can last for a long time without improving or disappearing.
• Helplessness or guilt, you may feel bad about yourself, your life, or think too much about losses.
• despair.
• irritability.
• Lack of interest in activities.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Changes in the way you sleep.
• Changes in appetite, you may eat more or less than usual.
• الصداع.
• Stomach upset.
• Low energy.
• Fatigue, or exhaustion.
• Increased sedentary physical activity.
• Forgetting.
• Difficulty making simple decisions.
• Thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts.
• Sexual dysfunction.

It is normal for people to experience moments of sadness or melancholy as part of the human experience, which is why a diagnosis of depression requires experiencing any of the above symptoms every day, for at least two weeks, to confirm that you have the disorder.

Causes of depression

Researchers don't know the exact cause of depression, but they believe there are several factors that contribute to the development of this mood disorder, such as: –

• Brain chemistry

An imbalance in neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, contributes to the development of this mood disorder.

• Genetic factors

If you have a family history of depression (a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling), you are more likely to develop the mood disorder than others, but you can develop the disorder without a family history.

• العمر

There are several factors that can increase the risk of depression, such as: –

• If you are toothed.
• If you live alone.
•  Lack social support.
• Medical conditions

Chronic diseases can lead to the disorder, such as: –

• داء السكري.
• arthritis.
• الربو.
• السرطان.
• Heart disease.
• Parkinson's disease.
• stroke.

increases the risk of developing this mood disorder.

• بعض الأدوية

Some medications can increase the risk of depression, such as: –

• Isotretinoin for acne.
• Interferon alpha.
• Corticosteroids.
• الجنس

Women are about twice as likely to develop the disorder as men, due to the hormonal changes that women go through at different stages of their lives.

Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle, menopause, or the postpartum period may increase the risk of developing the disease.

• Stressful life events

Difficult life experiences, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can increase the risk of developing this mood disorder.

Types of depression

There are many types of depression, which can be identified by the symptoms you experience, such as: –

Major depression

This type is more common, more severe, and is known as major depressive disorder, or clinical depression.

This type occurs when you feel sad most of the time, for at least two weeks, and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as: –

• Difficulty falling asleep, or feeling sleepy all the time.
• Insomnia and fatigue.
• Eating more than usual, or loss of appetite.
• Loss of interest.
• Guilt.
• Difficulty concentrating.

If you have five or more of these symptoms on most days, for two weeks or more, a diagnosis of depression may confirm that you have this type of depression.

Persistent depressive disorder

Also known as persistent mood disorder, it is a mild to moderate disorder that lasts for at least two years.

The symptoms of this type are less severe than severe depression.

Bipolar depression

A person with this type, known as manic depression, experiences mood swings of mania and depression.

Disruptive Mood Swings Disorder

This type affects children and adolescents between the ages of six and 18, suffering from the following: –

• Frequent outbursts of anger.
• Extreme outbursts of anger.
• Constant irritation.

The symptoms of ADHD are so severe that they cause issues at home and at school. A child can have severe symptoms for a year or more.

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Seasonal Affective Disorder

Also called seasonal depression, it occurs when a person experiences the disorder during the fall and winter, but it usually disappears in the spring and summer

psychotic disorder

People with the disorder experience symptoms of severe depression along with psychotic symptoms, such as: –

• Hallucinations.
• Illusions.
• Paranoia.

Prenatal and postpartum depression

Prenatal depression occurs during pregnancy. Postpartum depression develops within four weeks of the baby's birth.

Postpartum mood disorder is more severe than prenatal mood disorder.

Troubling premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Women experience PMS symptoms in the week or two before their period starts as well as mood swings, such as extreme irritability and anxiety.

These symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with your life, but they usually improve within a few days after your period begins.

Atypical depression

If you suffer from this type of mood disorder, a positive event may temporarily improve your mood.

Diagnosis of depression

The diagnosis of depression is based on a thorough understanding of the following: –

• your symptoms.
• Your medical history.
• Your mental health history.

To determine the type of mood disorder you have, you must have five depressive symptoms that occur every day for about two weeks.

There is no lab test that checks for depression, but your doctor may ask you to undergo standard medical tests as part of your initial physical exam.

Tests to diagnose depression

These tests are a set of questions, and through your answers, the doctor can determine the type of depression, and determine the necessary treatment for your condition, including the following tests: –

• The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQS), which contains 9 questions about your mood and daily activities.
• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to measure the severity of depression symptoms.
• The Hamilton Rating Scale for Mood Disorder (HRSD) to assess the severity of depression.
• GDS is designed for the elderly

It is also possible that your doctor may ask you to undergo some tests, such as: –

• Computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain

This is to rule out serious diseases, such as a brain tumor.

• ECG to diagnose depression

to diagnose heart issues.

• EEG to diagnose depression

to record the electrical activity of the brain.

• Blood test

This is to see if you have kidney or liver issues.

Treating depression

Depression is one of the most treatable mental illnesses, and about 80 percent to 90 percent of people with the illness can respond well to treatment.

By diagnosing depression, we can determine the appropriate treatment for each type, and treatment methods include the following: –

Psychotherapy for depression

This type of therapy involves talking to a psychiatrist, who may help you change unhealthy feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

Treating depression with medication

It can help Antidepressants can change the brain chemistry that causes the mood disorder.

There are many types of antidepressants, and it can take some time to figure out which one is best for you.

Medications include the following: –

• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
• Escitalopram.
• Fluvoxamine.
• Paroxetine Paroxetine.
• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) for depression
• Duloxetine.
• Venlafaxine.
• Levomilnacipran.
• Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants
• Doxepin.
• Trimipramine.

Complementary medicine

People with mild depression can improve with treatments, such as: –

• Massage.
• Acupuncture.
• Hypnosis.

Brain stimulation therapy

Brain stimulation therapy helps people with severe depression or manic depression.

Types of brain stimulation therapy include: –

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
• Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

Symptoms of depression can also be improved at home by following these tips: –

• ممارسة الرياضة بانتظام.
• Sleep well (not too long, not too short).
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Spend your time with the people you care about.

Book your consultation now at Rafah Center for Mental Health At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions About Depression

You may have many questions on your mind, especially if you have someone close to you who suffers from depression, such as: –

What is the cause of depression?

The exact cause of depression has yet to be discovered, but there are several factors that lead to the disorder, such as:

• Genetic factor.
• Hormonal changes in women.
• بعض الأدوية.
• Stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one, or your job.
• العمر.
• Brain chemistry.

Is there a test for depression?

No. There is no test that can detect depression, but there are some medical tests that the doctor uses to find out the type of depression you are suffering from and the severity of its symptoms.

When do the symptoms of depression medications disappear?

Antidepressants may cause some side effects when you first start taking them, but they can improve over time.

These symptoms may disappear two weeks after starting treatment, as your body becomes accustomed to the treatment.

In the end, dear reader, you now realize how depression can be diagnosed, and what are the symptoms by which you can be sure that you have this mood disorder.

So if someone you care about is experiencing these symptoms, you should take them to Al Mousa Specialist Hospitalso that the best doctors can help you diagnose the condition and determine the right treatment.

Sources and references

Depression – clevelandclinic

Depressive disorder – who