Major Depression Disorder Research Paper

Depression, in general, affects more than 340 million people around the world and is reported to be the highest cause of disability in high-income countries (Demissie). 15% to 85% of mothers can experience postpartum “blues” with postpartum depression rates between 11.7% and 20.4% in the United States alone (Ersek). This depression can occur at anytime from post-delivery up to one year (Ersek).

Simply put, mood disorders are a type of mental disorder that exhibits noticeable and chronic change in mood, and can cause impaired behavioral, cognitive, or physical function. This is applicable to major depression, because those that suffer from this disorder tend to feel extreme and ongoing worthlessness and hopelessness. There are multiple factors that contribute to this disorder, both biological and psychological. Along with the factors that contribute to this disease, there are multiple treatment options that can be prescribed as

“In fact, major depression is the leading cause of disability for Americans between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the CDC”(Iliades, C.). Major Depression Disorder is also known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and is one of the most common and serious disorders leading to morbidity. Major Depression Disorder varies on the person 's age or gender, symptoms, the cause of the disorder, the triggers, and the methods of helping treat the disorder.

As a disorder that is predicted to affect 9.5% of the US adult population in any given year, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental illness that can last for long periods of time if left untreated (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). The symptoms associated with MDD vary from person to person, but the most common include a depressed mood, lack of energy, feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, irritability or guilt, fatigue, lack of interest in hobbies and activities that used to be pleasurable, weight fluctuations, suicidal thoughts, and having trouble focusing and making decisions (National Institute of Mental Health).

Understanding the progression of MDD can be complicated as it often subsides and flows in ways similar to other mood disorders. One metric for determining the severity of MDD in a patient is the level to which the disease has come to interfere in the patient’s daily life. Individuals can be appear more or less functional, but the disease is often considered to be disabling. In its most severe manifestations, patients obsess over death or retreat into reclusive behavior. In its chronic form, MDD can last for several years at a time. The disease is frequently recurrent (Felicano and Arean, 2007,). MDD may also be characterized by other

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental disorder characterized by behavioral, emotional, and cognitive symptoms that include but are not limited to the loss of pleasure or interest in activities (anhedonia), sleep disturbances, appetite changes, guilt or worthlessness, fatigue, lack of concentrating and/or indecisiveness including emotion dysregulation (mood swings) and views of the negative affect. People with MDD have five or more depressive symptoms, including sad mood or loss of pleasure, for two weeks. Symptoms must be present nearly every day, most of the day, for at least two weeks. MDD is one of the most common psychological disorders.

Major depression has symptoms of: sadness, loss of interest in activities, restlessness, excessive guilt, etc. Dysthymia is a milder form of depression. Symptoms include eating or sleeping too much or too little, fatigue, poor concentration, low self-esteem, and hopelessness. This is not the same as all the rest, besides major. Moragne said “For teens to be diagnosed with Dysthymia, the symptoms must have been present for at least one year, with no more than two months of this period being symptom-free”. This disorder can also lead to bipolar

There are diverse signs and symptoms of this disorder. They include being discouraged about the future, feeling socially isolated, lessened energy, intense emotions of guilt and or uselessness, constant sadness, thoughts of suicide and or death, and anxious, or “empty” mood.

According to the DSM-5, the main feature of mood disorders is a disturbance of mood. One of the most highly prevalent mood disorders is Major Depressive Disorder, an often chronic and severe disorder. It is considered a recurrent disorder when not chronic, where clients remit from depressive episodes and symptoms go away for a period of time but may return at a later time as part of the same depressive episode, or otherwise recovering from a treated episode but a new episode recurs later in the future (Hollon, Stewart & Strunk, 2006). The current criteria used to diagnose Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are as follows; five or more of these symptoms must be present over a consecutive 2 week period, characterised as a major depressive episode (MDE) and must be a change from previous functioning, including insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, recurrent thoughts of death and/or suicide, significant unusual weight or appetite loss, reduced ability to think and concentrate. Furthermore, either one of these following two or both symptoms are a must; depressed mood or diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities. Children may have irritable moods rather than depressed. Furthermore, depressed people report less enjoyment in social interactions and lesser social contact than non-depressed people, supported by research showing that depressed people have social cognition deficits whereby they have difficulty navigating their social environment and impaired interpersonal functioning (Bora & Berk,

Another form of depression is Psychotic depression. This form of depression occurs when a person experiences severe depression including some form of psychosis (having disturbing false beliefs or a break from reality also known as delusion) or having hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that can cause the person to become upset but no one else can hear or see). Postpartum depression is more serious than the usual “baby blues” women experience after giving birth. Women with this form of depression experience hormonal and physical changes due to the new responsibility of caring for a newborn which they find overwhelming. Studies have shown that approximately 10 to 15 percent of women experience this form of depression

and changes in behavioral (Bernet, 2010). Moreover, it is important to note “that of all of

According to the textbook, major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent disorder and occurs as a single episode or a recurrent condition. It lasts for a minimum of two weeks and displays a minimum of five symptoms, listed below, that significantly impair one’s functioning.

Mood disorders fall into the basic groups of elevated mood, such as mania or hypomania; depressed mood, of which the best-known and most researched is major depressive disorder (MDD) (commonly called clinical depression, unipolar depression, or major depression); and moods which cycle between mania and depression, known as bipolar disorder (BD) (formerly known as manic depression). There are several sub-types of depressive disorders or psychiatric syndromes featuring less severe symptoms such as dysthymic disorder (like but milder than MDD) and cyclothymic disorder (similar to but milder than BD. Mood disorders may also be substance-induced or occur in response to a medical condition.

Every once in a while an individual experiences sadness and blue moods however they pass after some time and the person resumes their life. Depressive disorders are characterized by sadness and loss of interest in things that were once pleasurable (APA, 2013). In contrast to a mood that goes away a person suffering from depressive disorders experience persistent episodes of sadness. Depressive disorders in contrast to a bad mood affect the mental and physical functioning of a person and cause deterioration in those functions. Depressive disorders change the thinking, feelings and behavior of the affected person and they can become a threat to themselves and others (Olfson et al. 2005). People snap out of bad moods, but individuals suffering from depressive disorders are sick and need medical attention. Depressive disorders are common, and they vary from individual to individual in symptoms and behavior. The symptoms will vary among males, females, young, elderly and even children. Depressive disorders are

In the DSM IV major depressive disorder is classified by depressive episodes lasting at the least two weeks at which a depressed mood is shown including a loss of enjoyment in previously pleasurable activities and or loss of interest a sad or irritable mood, a significant change in weight or appetite, problems sleeping or concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness. When this intense sorrow begins to tatter with your self-worth and causes you to feel hopeless for a period of time enabling you from performing normal daily routines it may very well be clinical depression one may be suffering from. Clinical Depression is a mood disorder that is treatable.