Major Depression – Signs and Symptoms

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), also known as Major or Clinical Depression, is a mental illness that affects approximately 6.7% of the population of the United States for at least a twelve-month period, according to the National Institute of Health. The difference between Clinical Depression and simply feeling depressed is that Clinical Depression is a long-term depressed mood that doesn’t go away in a few days like a depressive period. Major Depression is not triggered by a sad or tragic event in the individual’s life, such as the loss of a loved one, or by a physical factor, such as a side-effect of the individual’s current medication. Major Depressive Disorder originates from a problem mentally, usually involving the chemicals in the brain that are not in balance, causing the individual to have a low mood disorder, low self-esteem, and lack of pleasure in activities that the individual once enjoyed before.

Identifying Clinical Depression

Along with having a low mood, low self-esteem, and a lack of pleasure, there are many other important signs that indicate that an individual has Major Depressive Disorder. Since Major Depression is a mental mood disorder, this mental illness has a large impact on the life of the individuals and the way that he or she behaves at home, work, or around others. Therefore, most of the symptoms of Major Depression appear in circumstances such as family relationships, work and school life, sleeping and eating habits, and overall health of the Clinically Depressed individual.

1. Within relationships, the depressed individual may appear to be more agitated or lethargic than usual.

2. Within work and school life, low energy and difficulties producing work may be signs that the individual is depressed.

3. Additionally, the individual may change their sleeping patterns by sleeping more or less hours than usual or eat much more or less than habitually.

4. Sometimes, the health of an individual can be causing the depression that the individual is facing.

5. It is also common for a depressed individual to have feelings of self-guilt, hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness, and self-hatred.

Depression Signs in Children

In children, Major Depression usually takes onto a similar form to that of adult Clinical Depression. The majority of children with Major Depressive Disorder will act in a low mood, with low self-esteem, and lack of enjoyment or pleasure from activities previously enjoyed, however, there is also the possibility that that the child expresses his or her Major Depressive Disorder through angry behavior or by “acting out”. A list of additional possible signs of a depressive disorder in children are the following:

1. Social withdrawal, increased sensitivity to reject

2. Impaired thinking or concentration difficulties, reduced ability to function

3. Physical Complaints (stomach aches, headaches etc)

4. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, thoughts of death or suicide

Clinical Depression is much less common in children than adults, since the average onset age of Major Depression is 32 years old and only 2.5% of children are depressed; therefore, it is important to consider the other factors that may be generating these symptoms for the child such as emotional or psychological changes during growth. Additionally, more common symptoms of Clinical Depression for children over 12 years old include alcohol, drug, and tobacco abuse.

Severity of Depression

The severity of Major Depression Disorder is divided into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. The mild condition satisfies the minimum conditions for the diagnosis with the possibility of a few more symptoms. The moderate condition satisfies more than the minimum conditions for the diagnosis, clearly identifying the Depressive Disorder. The severe condition also satisfies more than the minimum condition for the diagnosis while demonstrating the mental illness’ severe impairments to the individual’s life, especially in social and occupational functioning. Usually, Major Depression displaying psychotic symptoms as well is automatically classified as severe. These symptoms can include delusions or hallucinations. In the most extreme of circumstances, Major Depressive Disorder can lead the individual to commit suicide or inflict harm on him or herself.

For more information on major depression or to sign up for a clinical trial, please contact Precise Research Centers at 601-420-5810 or visit www.precise-reasearch.com