The Term Major Depressive Disorder

This paper examines Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). As MDD is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders in the world, it represents one of the most important topics for research and clinical treatment strategies. The severity and duration of MDD is what distinguishes it from other forms of depressive mood disorders. It represents the most serious manifestation of the depressive mood disorders. The paper will provide a detailed description of the disease, its etiology, treatment strategies and options and social consequences associated with MDD.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental illnesses around the world. It is estimated that over 120 million people suffer from depression and it can be recognised in people as having episodes of low mood and a loss of interest in activities. MDD is a very disabling mental illness and highly costly in society. It is also referred to as clinical depression and it affects how you feel, think and behave. As a result it can lead to various emotional and physical problems (Cowen, Sharp, & Lau, 2013).

Major Depressive Disorder or MDD is a very common clinical condition that affects millions of people every year. According to the Agency for Health Care Policy & Research, “ depression is under diagnosed & untreated by most medical doctors, despite the fact that it can almost always be treated successfully.

Depression is a clinical condition associated with the normal emotions of bereavement and sadness. However, this condition does not pass on when the external causes of these emotions dissolve and is usually inconsistent to their cause. In essence, the classic severe conditions of depression have not been attributed to external precipitating cause. One of the most common conditions of depression is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which is a psychiatric condition that impairs moods, behavioral patterns, and thoughts for a protracted duration. This psychiatric illness tends to impair the patient’s social functioning and quality of life due to its impacts on cognitive functioning. Some of the most common symptoms of the condition include difficulty in concentration, weight change, minimal interest in pleasure, high rate of suicide, and physical impairment. The severity of this disease was evident in the year 2000 when the World Health Organization ranked it as the fourth cause of disability and premature death across the globe.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a very common mental illness; it can affect anyone. Many people feel down, sad, or “blue” occasionally, but most the time is short-lived and passes quickly. Depression is more than grief after a loss or just feeling down and/or sad. Major Depressive Disorder consists of at least a two-week episode in which a person’s mood is lowered and can be accompanied with low self-esteem, diminished interest in most activities the individual once enjoyed, low energy, sleep too much or not enough, feeling hopeless and/or empty. An individual may also experience feelings of worthlessness or guilt, unable to concentrate or indecisiveness, and recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation, or an actual

Major Depressive Disorder, also known as "Clinical Depression" is a psychological disorder that targets emotions of sadness and melancholy. Major depression affects an individual's ability to perform well at their job and at school. It may also affect the person's sleeping habits and eating habits (Belmaker and Agam Ph. D, 2008). For their eating habits, there have been records of MDD linked to anorexia and bulimia in adults ranging between 20%-80% in a lifetime (Fernandez-Aranda, 2007). MDD has also been correlated to patients experiencing sleep disorders, with different types of Insomnia,, such as "sleep onset Insomnia" and "sleep maintenance Insomnia" (National Sleep Foundation, 2005). Depression has been linked to substantial problems to

Major Depression Disorder has been a constant struggle for human beings with the first appearance dating all the way back to the second millennium B.C. This disorder was formerly known as “melancholia” and looked to as a spiritual illness where demons and evil spirits would possess the body. It wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th century when melancholia took on a new name and idea, depression. Psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin became an advocate for the change of title and his influence has led to the increased understanding of mental illness (Bar). In order to be diagnosed with MDD, within a two-week period five or more of the following symptoms must be present: depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, significant weight loss or

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders, with a 12-month prevalence of 6.7% of adults in the United States (NIMH). There is no definite etiology of depression, but several risk factors have been identified. Functional and structural changes in the brain have also been explored. The most common treatment for depression is the use of drugs that act on monoamine transmitters, including norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Decreases in these transmitters, especially serotonin, were hypothesized to play an important role in the cause of depression (Breedlove & Watson, 2013). The serotonin hypothesis led to the development of selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. Further research suggests that the serotonin hypothesis is not entirely accurate and the neurobiology of depression is much more complex. The “chemical imbalance” explanation of depression may not reflect the full range of causes and may be given greater credibility by patients and doctors than is supported by evidence based research.

Major depressive disorder, we all have probably heard of it, but do we really know what is it is ? Major depressive disorder is “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest… major depressive disorder or clinical depression, affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems”(Mayo Clinic Staff). Having this disorder puts you in a very unstable position because you are constantly feeling depressed so it affects the way you think and feel and that can be very dangerous. Sometimes this happens to a person for one day, but put yourself in the shoes of someone who experiencing this for more than two weeks? When you have major depressive disorder, the signs of depression disorder can last for two weeks or more(myers646). This dis order must be treated immediately because “depression may make you feel as if life isn 't worth living”(Mayo Clinic Staff). Feeling this way can lead you to doing things that you can not take back such as committing suicide and sadly that can happen when you have major depressive disorder. Kiyohara and Yoshimasu conducted a research that showed that 90% of suicides have were dealing with major depressive disorder(qtd. in The World Health Organization). Throughout this paper I will be discussing the causes, symptoms and treatment when dealing with major depressive disorder.

The prevalence of MDD in the United States is approximately 7%, although the prevalence varies significantly by age groups and gender (APA, 2013). For instance, the prevalence of MDD in individuals aged between 18 and 29 is three times higher than the prevalence among individuals aged 60 and older (APA, 2013). Specifically, approximately 14.8 million American adults in a given year are affected by the disorder (Kessler, Chiu, Demler, Merikangas, & Walters, 2005). The World Health Organization assessed depression as the fourth leading disorder affecting individuals worldwide (Murray, & Lopez,

Major depression is categorized as a mood disorder. There are consistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest. Emotional and physical problems are normally associated with major depression disorder or MDD. Feelings and behavior are changed due to this mood disorder. Activities of daily living and even carrying on with life period may be a struggle for those who suffer from MDD.

Depression is defined as “an alteration in mood that is expressed by feelings of sadness, despair, or pessimism” (Neeb’s, 397). There are seven types of depressive disorders which are major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, postpartum depression, major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, substance-induced depressive disorder, depressive disorder associated with another medical condition, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Each type of depression has it’s own criteria for a patient to be diagnosed under. Depression often goes hand in hand with anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders (ATI, 97).

Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by a depressed mood, a lack of interest in activities normally enjoyed, changes in weight and sleep, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, difficulty

What is major depressive disorder? Major depressive disorder is a psychiatric disorder documented in the DSM. Major depressive disorder interferes with an individual's normal functioning in everyday life and causes pain to the person with this disorder and to those close to the person. Individuals with major depressive disorder cannot just "pull themselves out" of this depression on their own and the symptoms accompanied with this disorder can last for weeks, months, and even years (Butcher, Mineka, and Hooley, 2013, p. 221-22). Recognizing the symptoms is critical because most people need treatment to get better.

Depression is a normal emotional reaction to perceived loss and hopelessness (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002). There are a number of different types of depression such as chronic depression, manic depression and the primary focus of this essay Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MDD is a clinical depression, which is more chronic and more severe compared to other types of depression. It significantly disrupts the individual’s ability to meet the normal demands of life. According to many clinicians, clinical depression should be considered as a medical illness in need of medical intervention. Other mental health professionals believe this is an overstatement of the role of physiology and the