If you have depression, it’s important to know which type you have. While all types have persistent feelings of sadness or low mood in common, the combination of symptoms you experience beyond that and the cause of your depression allow a clinician to diagnose you with a specific condition and guide you to the best treatment options.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a65e79cf-c114-45c0-b44d-86a9f5e4fdd2 “ It is much more than just a sad mood, ” says Angelos Halaris, MD, PhD , a psychiatrist and a professor of psychiatry at Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine. Symptoms of the various kinds of depression may include everything from hopelessness and fatigue to physical pain. e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a65e79cf-c114-45c0-b44d-86a9f5e4fdd2 This serious mood disorder causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and manage your daily life, often leading to persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. Many labels actually fit under the umbrella term “depression,” including major depression, atypical depression, and dysthymia.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a65e79cf-c114-45c0-b44d-86a9f5e4fdd2 The good news is that even if depression symptoms are severe, there is treatment. Options like therapy or medication can help improve depression symptoms. Here are eight different types of depressive disorders.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a65e79cf-c114-45c0-b44d-86a9f5e4fdd2
2. Dysthymia: The Common Depression Type You May Not Know Dysthymia About 2.5 percent of American adults have a type of depression during their lives that’s less severe than major depression, but is still very real — dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762956c63e94-d451-429e-af5e-33991b6db168 Dysthymia is a type of depression that causes a low mood over a long period of time — more than two years, according to diagnostic criteria. “People can function adequately, but not optimally,” says Dr. Halaris. Symptoms include sadness, trouble concentrating, fatigue , and changes in sleep habits and appetite.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762956c63e94-d451-429e-af5e-33991b6db168 This depression type is usually treated with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Because dysthymia usually lasts longer than five years, some people may need long-term treatment. People with dysthymia may also be at risk for episodes of MDD.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298c844c8e-6620-43aa-bff2-c785fc9bc0a6
1. Major Depressive Disorder: A Common Type of Depression Major Depressive Disorder The most common type of depression is major depressive disorder (MDD), sometimes referred to as major depression or clinical depression. About 15.5 percent of the adult U.S. population has this debilitating mental health condition in any given year.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294b4c2f2a-6639-4355-be9c-32b3b8565e2ee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762963ecf4fe-b839-478d-af37-b4ac10269e4a If you’re experiencing MDD, you may have symptoms that include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e95481f5-0a38-4865-9387-0e51962f7c2e Extreme sadness Hopelessness Anhedonia (loss of interest in pleasurable activities) Lack of energy Irritability Trouble concentrating Changes in sleep or eating habits Feelings of guilt Physical pain Thoughts of death or suicide For an official diagnosis, your symptoms must last for more than two weeks.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e95481f5-0a38-4865-9387-0e51962f7c2e In some instances, a person might only experience one episode of major depression, but this type of depression tends to recur throughout a person’s life.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762963ecf4fe-b839-478d-af37-b4ac10269e4a Some people may also develop MDD with “atypical” features — though these depressive symptoms may actually be more common than their “typical” opposite.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292d6369d9-cdfb-4b19-9c6e-aebc99922fac Atypical MDD is characterized by mood reactivity, or a temporary improvement in how you feel in reaction to real or possible positive events. Oversleeping and overeating are two other distinct symptoms of atypical depression. (Features of typical MDD include unchanged mood in reaction to positive events, and difficulty eating and sleeping.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629638a9189-e188-4568-a8b9-efa05b0ff711e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291ac246d0-2444-47fa-827b-c2c3bc45dd7f) People with atypical depression may also gain weight, experience irritability, have a heavy feeling in their arms or legs, or have increased sensitivity to interpersonal criticism or rejection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629638a9189-e188-4568-a8b9-efa05b0ff711 The most effective treatment options for MDD are psychotherapy (aka talk therapy) and medication. And there’s good news: An estimated 70 to 90 percent of people with major depression do well with treatment. Physical exercise is also increasingly prescribed by physicians as a treatment for MDD, and research shows that it can lessen depressive symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f03fdc7d-744a-4185-80c9-2450a64b8adc e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762955bff827-1d61-4bb3-955a-3afab9489672
6. Bipolar Disorder: From High to Low (and Back to High Again) Bipolar Disorder If your periods of extreme lows are followed by periods of extreme highs or periods that contain both highs and lows (mixed episodes), you could have bipolar disorder , a type of depression previously called manic depressive disorder because symptoms can alternate between mania and depression.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762900854325-0c47-4773-b804-5219d66a2ead Signs of mania include high energy, excitement, racing thoughts, and poor judgment. “Symptoms may cycle between depression and mania a few times per year or much more rapidly,” Halaris says, referring to a phenomenon in bipolar disorder known as “rapid cycling,” when someone has four or more mood episodes in a year. “This disorder affects about 2 to 3 percent of the population and has one of the highest risks for suicide.”e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291cd1799b-80b0-4e51-aae5-ab148c8bab2a Bipolar disorder has four basic subtypes:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291cd1799b-80b0-4e51-aae5-ab148c8bab2a Bipolar 1, which is characterized by at least one manic episode, with or without ever having had a depressive episode Bipolar 2 , which is characterized by hypomanic episodes — which are milder — along with depression Cyclothymic disorder, which is characterized by milder highs and lows than those of bipolar 1 or bipolar 2 disorders Other specified or unspecified bipolar and related disorders, in which your mood episodes don’t follow the patterns of the other types People with this type of depression are typically treated with drugs called mood stabilizers , antidepressants, and antipsychotics, as well as psychotherapy.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291cd1799b-80b0-4e51-aae5-ab148c8bab2a
8. Situational Depression: When Life Gets You Down Situational Depression Many episodes of depression are triggered by a stressful or life-changing event, such as a job loss, the death of a loved one, or trauma — even a bad breakup . This is what’s known as situational depression, which is also called adjustment disorder with depressed mood.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a6a1acb3-80b5-4c33-bb9d-c3a72d12a3fd The predominant symptoms often include the following:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a6a1acb3-80b5-4c33-bb9d-c3a72d12a3fd Low mood Tearfulness Feelings of hopelessness Trouble performing your everyday routines Impulsive or reckless behavior Physical symptoms like headache or abdominal pain In these cases, the symptoms don’t meet the full criteria for a diagnosis of MDD and typically don’t last as long. However, an adjustment disorder with depressed mood can develop into MDD over time.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762923b06b1e-b650-406e-acdf-990223a88ada
The Takeaway All forms of depression have persistent sadness or low mood at their core, but there are a number of unique types, with different causes and treatment plans. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common form of depression, though there are a number of others, including dysthymia, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Treatments for most types of depression typically consist of a combination of medication and psychotherapy, though some forms may respond to interventions like physical exercise or light therapy.
4. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Extreme Winter Weariness Seasonal Affective Disorder Would you prefer to hibernate during the winter than face those cold, dreary days? Do you tend to gain weight, feel blue, and withdraw socially during the season?e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844e You could be one of about 5 percent of people in the United States estimated to have a subtype of MDD called seasonal affective disorder , or SAD.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844e Though many people find themselves feeling low in winter, SAD is characterized by symptoms of feeling down nearly all the time, anxiety, increased irritability, daytime fatigue, and weight gain, among others. This type of depression typically occurs in colder climates, likely due to the lack of natural sunlight.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844ee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296ac25ac8-78bc-455e-bb88-d2a00246a81a “We don’t really know why some people are more sensitive to this reduction in light,” says Halaris. “Symptoms are usually mild, though they can be severe.” This type of depression usually starts in fall or winter and lifts in the spring, and it can be treated with light therapy or artificial light treatment, along with medication. And one medication, bupropion XL (Wellbutrin XL, Forfivo XL), can even prevent SAD if you start taking it in the fall. For some people, SAD can be linked to the summer months; it’s treated with medication.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844e
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: DepressionMayo Clinic: Depression (Major Depressive Disorder): Diagnosis and TreatmentStanford Neurodevelopment Affect and Psychopathology Laboratory: Types of DepressionInstitute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care: Types of DepressionBeyond Blue: Types of Depressions
3. Postpartum Depression: Low Mood After Having a Baby Postpartum Depression Many women feel some sadness during pregnancy or shortly after their baby is born. According to the biggest research study on the topic, about 33 percent of women who experienced depression related to pregnancy said it started during pregnancy, and about 40 percent said it started after giving birth. And for about one in five women, those feelings are serious enough to be diagnosed as a subtype of MDD called postpartum depression.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c4bab114-9a32-4d6e-ac47-8c2fb3876522 Postpartum depression is characterized by the following symptoms:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297053b4c9-7983-4c09-9516-2a4f156d5040 Feelings of extreme sadness or severe mood swings Anxiety Fatigue Loneliness Hopelessness Suicidal thoughts Fears or thoughts about hurting one’s baby Feelings of disconnect from one’s child This depression type can occur anywhere from weeks to months after childbirth, and Halaris says that it almost always develops within a year after a woman has given birth. “It needs prompt and experienced medical care,” Halaris says — and that may include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Additional reporting by Christina Vogt .
5. Psychotic Depression: Losing Touch With Reality Psychotic Depression Psychosis — a disconnection from reality characterized by disorganized thinking or changes in behavior; false beliefs, known as delusions; or false sights, sounds, or other sensory experiences, known as hallucinations — doesn’t typically get associated with depression. But according to research, nearly 20 percent of people with MDD develop psychotic symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b3142b15-34d6-45dc-b702-a3a6105fa764e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ae33ab05-0eee-4209-bb0f-d0eed40485fc “People with psychotic depression may become catatonic, not speak, or not leave their bed,” Halaris says. Treatment may require a combination of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, and may also require hospitalization, especially if psychosis makes you a danger to yourself or others. A review of 16 randomized controlled studies found that a combination of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a second-generation, or atypical, antipsychotic medication was associated with the best response to treatment, compared with treatment with either an antidepressant or antipsychotic alone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762956f7c494-975a-4631-a80c-a8d07c49369d
7. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: When Depression Strikes Women Once a Month Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a type of mood disorder that affects women 7 to 10 days before their menstrual cycle begins and continues for the first few days of their period. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, mood swings, and irritability or anger.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c54ce0a7-2e68-45af-bfaa-fdf8d0e2f458 Unlike premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which affects about 20 to 40 percent of women and has milder symptoms, PMDD affects about 2 to 8 percent of women of childbearing age and is much more severe.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f64763c3-6d07-4867-9e01-4e5cbc917a38 “PMDD can be severe enough to affect a woman’s relationships and her ability to function normally when symptoms are active,” says Halaris. Treatment for this kind of depression may include the following options, alone or in combination:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bb3af2f8-96b4-48fa-831d-3d56919486c4e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762999f5dd29-7320-489e-a70c-b49d7af80ed0 Antidepressants Oral contraceptives, including drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yaz), which is approved to treat PMDD by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Hormone blockers or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes) in severe cases Talk therapy Nutrition therapy
2. Dysthymia: The Common Depression Type You May Not Know Dysthymia About 2.5 percent of American adults have a type of depression during their lives that’s less severe than major depression, but is still very real — dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762956c63e94-d451-429e-af5e-33991b6db168 Dysthymia is a type of depression that causes a low mood over a long period of time — more than two years, according to diagnostic criteria. “People can function adequately, but not optimally,” says Dr. Halaris. Symptoms include sadness, trouble concentrating, fatigue , and changes in sleep habits and appetite.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762956c63e94-d451-429e-af5e-33991b6db168 This depression type is usually treated with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Because dysthymia usually lasts longer than five years, some people may need long-term treatment. People with dysthymia may also be at risk for episodes of MDD.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298c844c8e-6620-43aa-bff2-c785fc9bc0a6
1. Major Depressive Disorder: A Common Type of Depression Major Depressive Disorder The most common type of depression is major depressive disorder (MDD), sometimes referred to as major depression or clinical depression. About 15.5 percent of the adult U.S. population has this debilitating mental health condition in any given year.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294b4c2f2a-6639-4355-be9c-32b3b8565e2ee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762963ecf4fe-b839-478d-af37-b4ac10269e4a If you’re experiencing MDD, you may have symptoms that include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e95481f5-0a38-4865-9387-0e51962f7c2e Extreme sadness Hopelessness Anhedonia (loss of interest in pleasurable activities) Lack of energy Irritability Trouble concentrating Changes in sleep or eating habits Feelings of guilt Physical pain Thoughts of death or suicide For an official diagnosis, your symptoms must last for more than two weeks.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e95481f5-0a38-4865-9387-0e51962f7c2e In some instances, a person might only experience one episode of major depression, but this type of depression tends to recur throughout a person’s life.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762963ecf4fe-b839-478d-af37-b4ac10269e4a Some people may also develop MDD with “atypical” features — though these depressive symptoms may actually be more common than their “typical” opposite.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292d6369d9-cdfb-4b19-9c6e-aebc99922fac Atypical MDD is characterized by mood reactivity, or a temporary improvement in how you feel in reaction to real or possible positive events. Oversleeping and overeating are two other distinct symptoms of atypical depression. (Features of typical MDD include unchanged mood in reaction to positive events, and difficulty eating and sleeping.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629638a9189-e188-4568-a8b9-efa05b0ff711e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291ac246d0-2444-47fa-827b-c2c3bc45dd7f) People with atypical depression may also gain weight, experience irritability, have a heavy feeling in their arms or legs, or have increased sensitivity to interpersonal criticism or rejection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629638a9189-e188-4568-a8b9-efa05b0ff711 The most effective treatment options for MDD are psychotherapy (aka talk therapy) and medication. And there’s good news: An estimated 70 to 90 percent of people with major depression do well with treatment. Physical exercise is also increasingly prescribed by physicians as a treatment for MDD, and research shows that it can lessen depressive symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f03fdc7d-744a-4185-80c9-2450a64b8adc e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762955bff827-1d61-4bb3-955a-3afab9489672
6. Bipolar Disorder: From High to Low (and Back to High Again) Bipolar Disorder If your periods of extreme lows are followed by periods of extreme highs or periods that contain both highs and lows (mixed episodes), you could have bipolar disorder , a type of depression previously called manic depressive disorder because symptoms can alternate between mania and depression.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762900854325-0c47-4773-b804-5219d66a2ead Signs of mania include high energy, excitement, racing thoughts, and poor judgment. “Symptoms may cycle between depression and mania a few times per year or much more rapidly,” Halaris says, referring to a phenomenon in bipolar disorder known as “rapid cycling,” when someone has four or more mood episodes in a year. “This disorder affects about 2 to 3 percent of the population and has one of the highest risks for suicide.”e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291cd1799b-80b0-4e51-aae5-ab148c8bab2a Bipolar disorder has four basic subtypes:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291cd1799b-80b0-4e51-aae5-ab148c8bab2a Bipolar 1, which is characterized by at least one manic episode, with or without ever having had a depressive episode Bipolar 2 , which is characterized by hypomanic episodes — which are milder — along with depression Cyclothymic disorder, which is characterized by milder highs and lows than those of bipolar 1 or bipolar 2 disorders Other specified or unspecified bipolar and related disorders, in which your mood episodes don’t follow the patterns of the other types People with this type of depression are typically treated with drugs called mood stabilizers , antidepressants, and antipsychotics, as well as psychotherapy.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291cd1799b-80b0-4e51-aae5-ab148c8bab2a
8. Situational Depression: When Life Gets You Down Situational Depression Many episodes of depression are triggered by a stressful or life-changing event, such as a job loss, the death of a loved one, or trauma — even a bad breakup . This is what’s known as situational depression, which is also called adjustment disorder with depressed mood.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a6a1acb3-80b5-4c33-bb9d-c3a72d12a3fd The predominant symptoms often include the following:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a6a1acb3-80b5-4c33-bb9d-c3a72d12a3fd Low mood Tearfulness Feelings of hopelessness Trouble performing your everyday routines Impulsive or reckless behavior Physical symptoms like headache or abdominal pain In these cases, the symptoms don’t meet the full criteria for a diagnosis of MDD and typically don’t last as long. However, an adjustment disorder with depressed mood can develop into MDD over time.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762923b06b1e-b650-406e-acdf-990223a88ada
The Takeaway All forms of depression have persistent sadness or low mood at their core, but there are a number of unique types, with different causes and treatment plans. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common form of depression, though there are a number of others, including dysthymia, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Treatments for most types of depression typically consist of a combination of medication and psychotherapy, though some forms may respond to interventions like physical exercise or light therapy.
4. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Extreme Winter Weariness Seasonal Affective Disorder Would you prefer to hibernate during the winter than face those cold, dreary days? Do you tend to gain weight, feel blue, and withdraw socially during the season?e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844e You could be one of about 5 percent of people in the United States estimated to have a subtype of MDD called seasonal affective disorder , or SAD.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844e Though many people find themselves feeling low in winter, SAD is characterized by symptoms of feeling down nearly all the time, anxiety, increased irritability, daytime fatigue, and weight gain, among others. This type of depression typically occurs in colder climates, likely due to the lack of natural sunlight.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844ee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296ac25ac8-78bc-455e-bb88-d2a00246a81a “We don’t really know why some people are more sensitive to this reduction in light,” says Halaris. “Symptoms are usually mild, though they can be severe.” This type of depression usually starts in fall or winter and lifts in the spring, and it can be treated with light therapy or artificial light treatment, along with medication. And one medication, bupropion XL (Wellbutrin XL, Forfivo XL), can even prevent SAD if you start taking it in the fall. For some people, SAD can be linked to the summer months; it’s treated with medication.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762976098920-cff4-4034-937e-57701f40844e
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: DepressionMayo Clinic: Depression (Major Depressive Disorder): Diagnosis and TreatmentStanford Neurodevelopment Affect and Psychopathology Laboratory: Types of DepressionInstitute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care: Types of DepressionBeyond Blue: Types of Depressions
3. Postpartum Depression: Low Mood After Having a Baby Postpartum Depression Many women feel some sadness during pregnancy or shortly after their baby is born. According to the biggest research study on the topic, about 33 percent of women who experienced depression related to pregnancy said it started during pregnancy, and about 40 percent said it started after giving birth. And for about one in five women, those feelings are serious enough to be diagnosed as a subtype of MDD called postpartum depression.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c4bab114-9a32-4d6e-ac47-8c2fb3876522 Postpartum depression is characterized by the following symptoms:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297053b4c9-7983-4c09-9516-2a4f156d5040 Feelings of extreme sadness or severe mood swings Anxiety Fatigue Loneliness Hopelessness Suicidal thoughts Fears or thoughts about hurting one’s baby Feelings of disconnect from one’s child This depression type can occur anywhere from weeks to months after childbirth, and Halaris says that it almost always develops within a year after a woman has given birth. “It needs prompt and experienced medical care,” Halaris says — and that may include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Additional reporting by Christina Vogt .
5. Psychotic Depression: Losing Touch With Reality Psychotic Depression Psychosis — a disconnection from reality characterized by disorganized thinking or changes in behavior; false beliefs, known as delusions; or false sights, sounds, or other sensory experiences, known as hallucinations — doesn’t typically get associated with depression. But according to research, nearly 20 percent of people with MDD develop psychotic symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b3142b15-34d6-45dc-b702-a3a6105fa764e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ae33ab05-0eee-4209-bb0f-d0eed40485fc “People with psychotic depression may become catatonic, not speak, or not leave their bed,” Halaris says. Treatment may require a combination of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, and may also require hospitalization, especially if psychosis makes you a danger to yourself or others. A review of 16 randomized controlled studies found that a combination of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a second-generation, or atypical, antipsychotic medication was associated with the best response to treatment, compared with treatment with either an antidepressant or antipsychotic alone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762956f7c494-975a-4631-a80c-a8d07c49369d
7. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: When Depression Strikes Women Once a Month Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a type of mood disorder that affects women 7 to 10 days before their menstrual cycle begins and continues for the first few days of their period. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, mood swings, and irritability or anger.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c54ce0a7-2e68-45af-bfaa-fdf8d0e2f458 Unlike premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which affects about 20 to 40 percent of women and has milder symptoms, PMDD affects about 2 to 8 percent of women of childbearing age and is much more severe.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f64763c3-6d07-4867-9e01-4e5cbc917a38 “PMDD can be severe enough to affect a woman’s relationships and her ability to function normally when symptoms are active,” says Halaris. Treatment for this kind of depression may include the following options, alone or in combination:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bb3af2f8-96b4-48fa-831d-3d56919486c4e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762999f5dd29-7320-489e-a70c-b49d7af80ed0 Antidepressants Oral contraceptives, including drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yaz), which is approved to treat PMDD by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Hormone blockers or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes) in severe cases Talk therapy Nutrition therapy
