What is Depressive Disorder?
Depression is a mood disorder that is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is caused by many factors such as genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. There are many types of depressive disorders, including major depressive disorder (also called clinical depression), dysthymia, manic depression, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, atypical depression, situational depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Major depressive disorder is a significant medical condition that affects all aspects of a people's life, including mood, behavior, and a variety of physical problems such as appetite and sleep. It is one of the most common mental health conditions in the US and affects 16.2 million US adults.
Common Symptoms of Depressive Disorders
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Persistent feeling of sadness
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Tearfulness
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Hopelessness
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Thoughts of death/suicide
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Feelings of worthlessness
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Memory loss
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Feelings of sadness
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Inappropriate guilt
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Daily fatigue
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Reduced appetite and weight loss
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Sleep disorders
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Irritability
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Lack of pleasure
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Reckless behavior
Treatment of Depressive Disorders
Depressive disorders can be successfully cured by formulating personal therapy according to the causes and symptoms. Common treatment strategies include behavioral therapies, medications, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), lifestyle changes, and psychotherapies. Sometimes, a combination of several strategies may be more preferable.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), a solution-focused therapy, has been proved to be very effective in reducing suicidal behavior, non-suicidal self-injury, impulsivity, addiction, anger, and depression as well as improving interpersonal relationships and social behavior.
Psychotherapy, also known as "talk therapy", aims to reduce the symptoms of depression by communication between patient and psychologist. The common forms of psychotherapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and problem-solving therapy.
ECT is an effective treatment for depression in some severe cases, for example, medications cannot relieve the symptoms of depression. However, ECT may result in some adverse effects such as confusion, disorientation, and memory loss.
Antidepressants are medicines targeting various neurochemicals such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine that are applied for reducing symptoms of depression and controlling mood or stress. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (e.g., fluoxetine, citalopram , and sertraline) are the most popular medications for depression treatment. SSRIs tend to have fewer adverse effects than older classes of antidepressants including tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Recently, scientists have found a new antidepressant medication, esketamine. The drug can bind NMDA receptors in the brain and then inhibit the uptake of excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, leading to an increase in glutamate, which ultimately enhances neural circuits in regions of the brain associated with motivation, memory, and mood. Studies have reported this drug is safe and effective for depression treatment.
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