Major depressive disorder symptoms. Chronic depression. What is the difference between dysthymia and fatigue?

The vast majority of us know absolutely nothing about depressive disorder. Many people call depression ordinary mood swings that are common to all people and associated with real reasons. Depression, as a type of mental disorder, in medicine is usually called long-term, intense mood swings that cause disruption of a person’s functioning in society and personal relationships.

Prevalence of depression

Depressive disorders Among all mental disorders, depression occupies one of the leading places. Thus, women are more susceptible to depression: 40 cases of illness per 1000 people. Men are twice as likely to suffer from depression: 20-30 cases per 1000 people.

The prevalence of depressive disorder is interesting. Residents of large cities, especially people with high levels of income, suffer much more often from this mental disorder. But among people who are not burdened by material wealth, depression is much less common. It is noteworthy that depressive disorders are practically not found among homeless people and alcoholics.

Depression is a disabling disease. It is one of the most common causes of disability in both our and other countries. The number of people with disabilities due to this mental disorder is growing every year. According to the findings of the World Health Organization: in 2020, depressive disorders will become the leading cause of disability, second only to diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Signs of Depressive Disorder

There is a set of symptoms whose presence in a person gives rise to a diagnosis of depressive disorder.

The main symptoms include:

• prolonged state of depressed mood;
• loss of interest in previously favorite activities;
• fatigue, even from light work;
• pessimistic views about the future;
• unreasonable feelings of guilt, uselessness and worthlessness;
• low self-esteem;
• poor sleep and appetite;
• thoughts of death and suicide.

Depending on the degree of manifestation of these symptoms, depressive disorder is divided into “major” and “minor”.

Major depressive disorder characterized by a wide range of symptoms, significant depth of changes in mental activity and prolonged immersion of a person in painful depressive experiences. In this state, the sufferer is helpless and requires care and proper treatment.

Minor depressive disorder has a smaller set of symptoms, but their severity can be quite strong. In any case of depression, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

Not the least common among depressive disorders is atypical depression. In the case of atypical depression, secondary symptoms come to the fore. For example, with a relatively slight decrease in mood, severe weakness and poor sleep are noted.

Other specific forms of depressive disorder have been described. Depression that occurs after childbirth is commonly called postnatal, and a depressed mood that lasts for years - .

Stress factors, physical and emotional experiences, hormonal imbalances and personal characteristics of a person contribute to the development of depression. People who are subject to anxiety, suspiciousness, and who have poor resistance to stress have a much harder time with depressive disorders.

We should also not forget about the genetic predisposition to depressive disorders. For example, children whose parents suffer from depression have an increased risk of developing this mood disorder.

People of any age are not immune from depression: both old and young are susceptible to it. While quite a lot is known, medicine knows too little about recently discovered depression in infants.

Treatment of depression

For effective treatment of depressive disorder, you should consult a psychiatrist. Depressive disorders can be successfully treated. Modern pharmacology is armed with a variety of drugs designed to... Treatment will be successful only if the person himself is determined to see a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. The support of relatives also has a significant impact.

The most important step in the treatment of depressive disorder is timely diagnosis. The beginning of the diagnosis of depression will be the collection of anamnestic information about the patient. The doctor will always pay attention to the characteristics of life, the presence of chronic diseases, and genetic predisposition to depressive disorders. A frank conversation with a doctor allows not only to correctly establish a diagnosis, but also to identify the root cause of depression, which significantly affects treatment and prognosis.

There is no standard treatment regimen that suits absolutely everyone. Every person, like every case of depression, is unique. The selection of treatment method, drugs and regimen require an individual approach. It is not always possible to prescribe effective therapy the first time.

Not stopping when you fail is an important key to success in any endeavor, even in the treatment of depressive disorder.

Treatment of depression of any type is carried out in several stages. Initially, it is necessary to remove its most painful manifestations. Tranquilizers help cope with debilitating anxiety. The doctor will not prescribe them for a long time. There is absolutely no need for this. It is possible to improve sleep with sleeping pills. A useful addition to drug treatment would be herbs that have a sedative and antidepressant effect. The main drugs in the treatment of depressive disorder, naturally, will be antidepressants. There are many schemes and approaches to the use of antidepressants. Only a doctor can tell you which drug, in what dose and for how long to take. Antidepressants develop their effect over a fairly long period of time. You should not expect an immediate effect from them. The course of treatment with antidepressants, as well as the duration of treatment for depression itself, ranges from 4 to 9 months. If a person's depressive disorder recurs, this requires extending the use of antidepressants for a longer period.

Drug treatment of depressive disorders is accompanied by various psychotherapeutic approaches. Psychotherapy helps not only to reduce depressive symptoms, but also to find the root cause of the onset of depression.

In addition to medications and psychotherapy, excellent results are obtained from the use of physiotherapy, acupuncture and music therapy. An integrated approach to the treatment of depression can significantly increase the chances of overcoming the disease, reducing disability, and returning to normal life.

Clinical depression is a severe form of depressive disorder characterized by a complex of symptoms. This disorder is accompanied by a number of mental, physical and affective symptoms. The name of the disease is major depressive disorder, unipolar depression. The pathology is widespread and requires timely treatment.

The first symptoms of depression most often appear between the ages of 25 and 45, and women are more susceptible to the pathology than men.

Clinical depression is an illness with a protracted course, but a slow increase in symptoms. According to statistics, a quarter of the world's population have experienced this disorder at least once in their lives. In approximately 2% of cases, clinical depression becomes chronic. Mental disorder leads to social maladjustment, is accompanied by a variety of symptoms and causes suicidal thoughts, which often ends in death for the patient if treatment is not started in a timely manner.

It should be noted that ICD-10 does not classify clinical depression as a separate disease. In contrast to the specificity of symptoms, the severity of the disorder and the characteristics of its manifestation, the disease can be designated by various codes. Most often, the disease is designated by code F32, which corresponds to single episodes of various forms of depression, or code F33, indicating recurrent depressive disorder.

No person is immune from this mental disorder. Most often, the first episode of depression develops at the age of 25-45 years, and it is believed that women are more susceptible to pathology than men. The problem with this disease is that more than half of patients prefer not to pay attention to alarming symptoms.

Advanced forms of clinical depression pose a serious danger to the patient’s psyche. Approximately 2% of people with this diagnosis attempt suicide, which in half of the cases ends in death.

Reasons for the development of the disorder

The causes of depression have not yet been precisely established. Experts identify a number of factors that could presumably lead to the development of this disorder. As a rule, it is impossible to single out a single factor that led to clinical depression, therefore it is believed that the development of the disease is associated with the simultaneous action of several causes, both mental and biological.

Doctors identify the following reasons for the development of the disorder:

• living in a large metropolis;
• stress;
• traumatic situations in the past;
• tendency to migraines;
• upbringing;
• personality psychotype;
• biochemical disorders.

According to statistics, residents of large cities are three times more likely to experience depressive disorder than people living in provincial cities and rural areas. First of all, this is explained by the rhythm of life in a modern city. Every day a person faces multiple stressful situations that have a destructive effect on the psyche. In rural areas and small towns, life flows more calmly and the human psyche gets the opportunity to “rest”, which is necessary to recover from stress.

In general, stress is one of the main triggers for the development of depressive disorder. Research shows that more than half of the residents of large cities do not know how to fight it on their own, without resorting to medications. Constant stress depletes the nervous system and impairs its self-healing abilities. Considering the fact that many people are forced to adapt to the rhythm of a big city, sacrificing a good night's rest, we can conclude that the nervous system simply does not have time to recover. As a result, the destructive influence of stress over time leads to serious mental disorders, one of which is major depressive disorder.

Living in a large metropolis, due to constant stress, can cause clinical depression

In addition to stress, there are traumatic situations that happened to a person in the past. In some cases, personal tragedies, loss of loved ones, and failures on the personal front leave a serious imprint on the human psyche. Not everyone finds the strength to cope with the situation on their own or seek help from a specialist, which as a result can lead to the development of serious problems and psychopathologies.

Personality psychotype plays an important role in the development of depression. As a rule, the disorder is faced by people who are insecure and tend to take everything to heart. Patients with depression are a bit fatalistic, prone to phobias, melancholy and anxiety.

Many mental disorders are viewed through the lens of a person's childhood upbringing, and clinical depression is no exception. The environment in which a child grew up leaves an imprint and largely shapes the psychotype. Thus, people who have experienced domestic violence may experience the disorder. Tyrant fathers, strict and religious mothers often raise people prone to neurosis and depression. Depressive disorder can be a consequence of both overprotection and lack of attention from parents in childhood. A person with a strong psyche grows up to be emotionally stable, while particularly impressionable and emotional people can carry sad episodes from childhood throughout their lives. A qualified psychologist can help cope with the consequences of upbringing, but not all adults find the strength to admit that there is a problem and seek help from a specialist.

Interestingly, the risk of developing depression is associated with migraines. As a rule, such paroxysmal headaches are observed in people of a certain psychotype and a weak nervous system, which requires a long time to recover. It should also be noted that the causes of migraines have not yet been precisely established, but there is a hypothesis that such headaches are associated with a lack of neurotransmitters, which intersects with the neurotransmitter theory of depression. According to this hypothesis, clinical depression occurs against the background of disturbances in the biochemical processes of the brain associated with an imbalance in the production of neurotransmitters. In particular, it is believed that insufficient production of serotonin and dopamine is to blame.

Although depression is not an age-related disease, there is a relationship with the frequency of episodes and a person's age. This is explained by the fact that with age, the nervous system loses flexibility and, in general, the body needs more time to recover, so people over 40 may experience depression. This hypothesis is not convincing enough, since adolescents often face clinical depression.

Somatic causes of the development of the disorder include diseases such as bronchial asthma, osteochondrosis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis. Depression can be observed in patients with diabetes, as well as with epilepsy.

Symptoms of the disorder

With clinical depression, a person often has thoughts of suicide

Signs of clinical depression include:

• depressed and depressed mood;
• sleep disorders;
• loss of appetite;
• lack of energy;
• constant weakness and chronic fatigue;
• loss of interest in life;
• psychomotor disorders;
• slow thinking and reactions;
• indecision;
• anxiety and fears;
• thoughts of suicide.

As a rule, the presence of five of the listed signs is sufficient to make a diagnosis. However, symptoms of clinical depression can vary depending on a number of factors.

The main difference from other types of depressive disorder is the persistence of symptoms throughout the day, while in milder forms of the disorder the symptoms worsen in the morning and subside in the evening.

The clinical picture of depression depends on the characteristics of the disease in a particular patient. In general, the clinical manifestations of depression in humans are as follows.

1. A person spends the vast majority of the day in a depressed state. Patients feel constant melancholy, lose interest in life, the ability to rejoice and have fun.
2. The patient feels the need for loneliness and social isolation.
3. Characteristic symptoms for patients with depressive disorder are constant drowsiness and chronic fatigue. A person wakes up already tired, any daily tasks are difficult to complete. In severe cases, even brushing your teeth after sleep becomes a real challenge.
4. Insomnia is observed in clinical depression. Early in the development of this disorder, a person experiences difficulty falling asleep and may subsequently spend several hours in bed trying to fall asleep. Insomnia leads to extreme sleepiness during the day.
5. As clinical depression progresses, a person's psychology itself changes. Patients feel pathological self-doubt and a tendency to self-examination. They are not sure of the correctness of their actions and actions, so they prefer to remain inactive, falling into procrastination. Quite often, against the background of clinical depression, a negative perception of oneself and a pathological feeling of guilt for one’s thoughts and actions develop. As a rule, in severe cases, suicidal tendencies develop from this condition.
6. Mental illness quickly leads to deterioration in performance. If, at the initial stages of the disease, concentration and speed of thinking deteriorate due to sleep disturbances and fatigue, over time this develops into a complete lack of motivation to act and loss of ability to work.
7. Clinical depression also negatively affects a person’s physical condition. In addition to chronic fatigue, pain appears, most often imaginary. This disorder often causes migraines, pressing (stress) headaches, general weakness and dizziness. Since many patients develop hypochondria, patients are faced with the fear of death and tend to “find” fatal diseases in themselves.
8. Patients experience decreased appetite and weight loss. In some cases, a person may feel nausea when eating and cramping pain in the stomach.

Symptoms may differ slightly between women and men with clinical depression. Thus, women often experience amenorrhea and decreased libido. The patient is not interested in physical intimacy, and asexuality may occur. Men experience impotence and loss of interest in the opposite sex.

Forms of the disorder

Postpartum psychosis manifests itself with symptoms of depression and requires hospital treatment

Clinical depression is characterized by a variety of symptoms. The following clinical variants of such depression are distinguished:

• postpartum form;
• psychotic form;
• premenstrual depression;
• anxious clinical depression.

The postpartum form of the disorder may be in the nature of depression or psychosis. Postpartum depression is characterized by depression, sleep disturbances, and loss of appetite. This form of the disease is directly related to hormonal changes occurring in a woman’s body. Postpartum psychosis is a dangerous disease characterized by symptoms of depression, anxiety attacks, delusions and hallucinations. This form of the disease requires hospital treatment.

The psychotic form of clinical depression is accompanied by obsessions, phobias, fear of death, and auditory hallucinations. Men often encounter this type of violation.

Premenstrual depression is part of the symptom complex of premenstrual syndrome in women. Symptoms of a mental disorder appear about a week before menstruation and disappear on their own 1-2 days after its onset. The problem with this form of the disorder is that many women consider their depressed state to be normal and do not consult a doctor.

Anxious clinical depression is accompanied by anxiety and phobia disorders. This type of disorder is characterized by psychomotor agitation, while the typical form of clinical depression occurs with psychomotor retardation.

Why is depression dangerous?

If you notice the first alarming symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Clinical depression changes a person’s personality, leading to forced isolation, loss of ability to work and desire for life. Mental symptoms of the disorder are accompanied by self-deprecation and suicidal thoughts. Many patients try to commit suicide.

With this disorder, the patient poses a danger, first of all, to himself. With prolonged clinical depression, many patients find it difficult to return to society.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis is made using tests. The Zang and Beck test is preferred. As a rule, a doctor can make a diagnosis during a face-to-face consultation if several symptoms from the list of signs of clinical depression are present.

At the same time, an important role is played by differential diagnosis. It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination to exclude somatic diseases (osteochondrosis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis). The patient must be examined by a neurologist. You should also do an MRI of the brain and Doppler sonography of blood vessels, to rule out brain tumors and infectious diseases.

Treatment of depression

For clinical depression, treatment is selected on an individual basis. Preference is given to two types of antidepressants - stimulating or sedative. Stimulant antidepressants are prescribed to patients with apathy, constant drowsiness, and slow thinking and speech. Medications with a sedative effect are used for depression with symptoms of anxiety, exacerbation of phobias, restlessness and moodiness.

How to treat clinical depression depends on the characteristics of the disease in the patient. Only a doctor can select therapy.

As a rule, antidepressants are used over a long course, over six months. The effectiveness of therapy is assessed every few months.

In addition to drug treatment, psychotherapy is very important for clinical depression. The choice of methodology is carried out on an individual basis. Good results are achieved through cognitive behavioral therapy and group psychotherapy.

Prevention and prognosis

As a rule, well-chosen drug therapy gives good results and completely eliminates symptoms. However, the patient is not immune from repeated episodes of clinical depression, so prevention plays an important role. Patients are advised to eat a balanced diet and adhere to a daily routine. It is important to exercise, diversify your hobbies and learn to deal with stress.

Anyone experiencing this disorder should consult a doctor about non-drug self-help methods for low mood and other symptoms of depression.

Chronic depression is a destructive mental condition accompanied by a persistent decrease in mood. This condition is less severe compared to the acute form, but has a longer duration. According to the DSM-IV medical classification, the symptoms of this disorder are not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of clinical depression. True, this item is not in the fifth edition of this classifier of diseases.

Chronic depression can only be diagnosed if more than 2 years have passed since the first symptoms appeared.

What is chronic depression

Chronic depression is a neurosis, that is, a mild mental disorder. Despite this, not the most pleasant symptoms may arise against its background. Onset usually occurs at a young age, although cases of chronic depression in older people are not uncommon.

There is a clear correlation with the standard of living in the country where the pensioner lives. Thus, in Europe there are more opportunities for older people to be socially active, so they are less likely to experience depressive symptoms. In Russia and the post-Soviet countries, almost every pensioner is faced with this condition.

In some cases, chronic depression begins in childhood. Then diagnosing neurosis is much more difficult. The patient believes that he simply has such a character. Difficulties also arise due to the fact that certain personality traits may overlap symptoms.

There are two types of chronic depression:

1. Somatized. In this case, the person complains of somatic problems with background anxiety. The individual may experience constipation, shortness of breath, tearfulness, and poor sleep. In the first stages, external events have a strong impact on the emotional state. As the disease progresses, the person becomes depressed, regardless of life events. Asthenia or hypochondria comes to the fore.
2. Characterological. With this type, the characteristics of a person’s personality come to the fore. Negative thoughts become persistent and persist throughout life. After some time, the worldview becomes distorted and a loser complex is formed. It is widely believed that people with a weak type of temperament are prone to this type of dysthymic disorder, but recently this thesis has been actively refuted. Any joyful event is distorted. Slowness is also a characteristic symptom of this condition.

What is the difference between dysthymia and fatigue?

There is no difference between chronic depression and dysthymia. These are synonyms. Previously, these concepts were artificially separated, but then they were combined. The reason for this lies in the lack of scientific evidence.

Fatigue is a temporary condition characterized by decreased performance and low mood. In this case there is a specific reason.

What is the danger

Chronic depression comes with many risks. These include:

1. Suicide.
2. Violation of socialization, deterioration of relationships with other people.
3. Inability to achieve life goals.
4. Loss of ability to work.
5. Exacerbation of other chronic diseases associated with the activity of the autonomic nervous system.

Important! The prognosis is positive if you pay due attention to treatment.

Clinical picture and diagnosis

The clinical picture includes the following symptoms:

1. Depressed mood;
2. Almost complete or absolute loss of interest in activities that previously evoked positive emotions;
3. Somatic disorders – weight loss, sleep disturbance;
4. Impaired concentration;
5. Anxiety, panic attacks.

When diagnosing the disease, clinical criteria must be taken into account. In addition to these symptoms, it is necessary to take a blood test to determine the content of a number of microelements in the body.

According to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, the patient's clinical picture must meet the following criteria:

1. Persistent or regular depressive episodes that have occurred for at least two years. There may be periods of normal mood that last less than a few weeks. In this case, there are no manic episodes (to exclude manic-depressive psychosis).
2. Depressive episodes are not consistent with mild recurrent depressive disorder.
3. At least with some relapses of symptoms, the following signs are possible:

• decreased energy and activity;
• sleep disturbance;
• feeling of self-doubt;
• difficulty concentrating;
• tearfulness;
• loss of interest in hobbies;
• feeling of hopelessness;
• a feeling of one’s own weakness in the fight against life’s difficulties;
• pessimism;
• reluctance to communicate with people.

Important! The diagnosis does not include symptoms of mild anxiety depression, prolonged depressive reaction and residual schizophrenia.

Causes

The range of causes of dysthymic disorder is wide, starting with the genetic characteristics of a person and ending with the way of interpreting the surrounding reality.

Possible reasons:

1. Disruption of the chemical balance in the brain, insufficient production of serotonin, which is responsible for stress resistance.
2. Pessimistic thinking, a tendency to look for the negative in any situation.
3. Lack of goals in life or learned helplessness.
4. Anxiety.
5. Chronic diseases.
6. Poor nutrition.
7. Regular stress.
8. Lack of quality sleep.
9. Some personality traits.
10. Childhood trauma.

Genetics plays an important role. Scientists have noticed significant differences between the brains of children who will become optimists in the future and those who will acquire a pessimistic view of the world.

How to get rid of chronic depression

Despite the fact that the development of the disease depends on the individual propensity of the person, there are several ways to get rid of chronic depression. First of all, this is drug therapy and psychotherapy. They must be applied comprehensively, because dysthymia is an advanced case. If for acute depression psychotherapy is sometimes sufficient, then for the chronic form it is necessary to use drugs.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy is not used independently. Its goal is to give a person the opportunity to remember what emotional state is normal, so that in the future he can learn to create it independently. After all, the main cause of depression is the actions of the person himself. Individual inclination may be an additional factor, but not a decisive one.

The following medications are used to treat depression:

1. SSRIs – serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Classic antidepressants that increase the concentration of serotonin by reducing its utilization.
2. TLPD – tricyclic antidepressants. Unlike the previous ones, these increase the production of norepinephrine and serotonin.

Important! Antidepressants are only symptomatic therapy. It does not affect the cause of the disease. Drug therapy can only temporarily improve the condition. There is no magic cure for depression. Careful work on yourself is an important condition for removing negative symptoms.

Psychotherapy

The most effective psychotherapeutic method for treating chronic depression is cognitive behavioral therapy. Its goal is to teach healthy behavior patterns and help identify and correct the automatic thoughts that underlie depression. These are irrational beliefs like “I’m not capable of anything,” “I’m afraid of people,” and others like that.

So, chronic depression (or dysthymia) is a pathological mental state that is accompanied by depressed mood without manic periods (inappropriately elevated mood) for two years.

Getting rid of depression at home is not as easy as under the supervision of a professional psychologist. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact a specialist to treat dysthymia as soon as the first symptoms begin to appear.

Dysthymia can be treated with medication and psychotherapy, although mild forms can be treated without medication. Dealing with it is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

Video

Depressed mood that lasts for a long time does not necessarily indicate major depressive disorder. Symptoms of clinical depression may not include a change in a person's emotional state at all. The diagnosis of the disorder is carried out by a psychologist or psychotherapist.

If, against the background of a depressive disorder, another personality disorder occurs, for example, paranoid, you should contact a psychiatrist. Treatment in most cases includes antidepressants and tranquilizers, which stabilize the victim’s condition during the acute stage of the disease.

If you suspect clinical depression, you should seek help from a specialist, as self-treatment can take many years. Some patients cannot heal on their own at all, because their mental resources are insufficient.

Physical well-being

Symptoms of depression are divided into physical and mental. In most cases, both are present. In the somatized (bodily, masked) form, there are only disturbances in the physical health of a person, and disturbances in the functioning of the psyche are not clearly expressed. With a deeper examination, mental symptoms can be detected, but standard questionnaires and history taking do not always reveal them.

How does the victim’s well-being change with classic clinical depression?

• performance decreases;
• concentration deteriorates;
• short-term and long-term memory suffers;
• sleep disturbance, two types of disorders: drowsiness and insomnia;
• sleep becomes superficial, restless, and does not provide rest;
• nightmares and unpleasant dreams are possible;
• in the morning the patient feels weak, tired, apathetic;
• during the day there is a lack of energy, difficulties arise in performing household and professional duties;
• appetite is impaired, two types of disorders: malnutrition and overeating;
• body weight decreases (not in all cases).

A special place among the signs of depression is occupied by self-aggression, intentional or unintentional harm to oneself. For example, a person may not pay attention to a fast-moving car and get into an accident. Treatment of depression can provoke an increase in this symptom, so medications are prescribed to normalize the condition in the acute period.

Psychosomatic diseases

With somatized depression, the patient suffers from infectious diseases more often than usual, the number of injuries due to negligence increases, all existing chronic ailments worsen, and new ones appear.

In most cases, a person does not suspect that he has depression and consults doctors for various reasons. Treatment of symptoms does not provide long-term results, and the patient cannot recognize and eliminate the cause. That is why, when diagnosing, a specialist asks questions about the frequency and nature of physical diseases; a sign of depression is a weak functioning of the immune system.

Mental well-being

The main reason for contacting a psychologist: most of the time the patient is in a depressed mood. The sexual sphere often suffers, difficulties arise with an erection in men, and with achieving orgasm in women. A person rarely experiences sexual desire, which can provoke problems in relationships with a partner.

Lack of motivation leads to decreased performance; in severe cases, a person cannot cope with his professional responsibilities.

The victim has a high level of anxiety, a pessimistic picture of his own future, an acute feeling of loneliness, isolation, and negative projections on other people. Self-esteem is reduced, sometimes a person tries to compensate for this with bravado, aggression, and sadistic behavior. In relation to oneself there is a rigid authoritarian position, rejection and antipathy. The patient may exhibit suicidal tendencies, openly or covertly strive for self-destruction.

How important is motivation?
There may be no criticism of one’s condition, and then seeking help occurs only under the pressure of circumstances. Relatives and friends can motivate the victim to seek treatment, because the symptoms of the disease adversely affect not only the person himself, but also his immediate environment.

Mental and physical disorders are closely related and mutually determined. For example, anxiety and bad mood lead to insomnia, due to lack of sleep, concentration decreases, mistakes and troubles due to inattention increase a negative attitude towards life, which again upsets sleep. Treatment with medications allows you to break this vicious circle and begin to work with acute internal conflicts without endangering a person’s life.

Treatment

Treatment of clinical depression involves intervention in fundamental mental processes, correction of self-esteem and behavior. This important process should only be entrusted to a professional.
A competent psychologist or psychotherapist always uses an individual approach in counseling each patient.

How is treatment carried out step by step?

• relieve physical symptoms, normalize sleep, appetite;
• find a starting point for developing healthy self-esteem;
• adjust the patient’s attitude towards himself;
• learn to build constructive relationships with other people;
• improve performance and motivation in the professional field;
• promote the creative, personal and professional development of the patient until he can cope with it independently.

The psyche, freed from clinical depression, receives a great resource that can be used for a long, happy and rich future life. The patient does not need therapeutic assistance for life, but only until successful autonomous functioning is achieved.

Clinical depression is a fairly common illness that can affect people of any age and requires medical treatment. In this condition, a person is constantly in a depressed mood, loses pleasure from communication, and possibly develops suicidal thoughts.

What kind of disease is this

Clinical depression, or major depressive disorder as it is also called, is a long-term painful physical and mental condition. The disease occurs in waves with different sequences. After a deeply depressed mood, there comes a slight relief, and then everything repeats again. Such changes in state can occur both on a daily basis and over longer periods.

Important! A person stops enjoying life and communicating with others. Depression usually occurs in adulthood, but can occur in children and adolescents.

Main causes of the disease

There is an opinion that this depressive disorder often develops in people with a genetic predisposition and mental pathologies.

In addition, there are other factors that cause this disease.

1. Hormonal imbalance. Clinical depression can develop due to a decrease in the amount of neurotransmitters. As a result, a slow formation of nerve impulses occurs, and as a result, a person ceases to feel positive emotions. Typically, hormonal disorders are caused by menopause, pathologies of the endocrine system, severe somatic disorders, and pregnancy.
2. Cognitive reasons. A depressive state can be caused by an erroneous assessment of one’s life, as well as those of others. People with low self-esteem, negative stereotypes, or, conversely, high demands often suffer from depression.
3. Situational factors. Severe life problems can trigger clinical depression. Often the disease develops after a traumatic event in life. Such an event could be divorce, death of a loved one, dismissal, or relocation.
4. Social factors. Constant anxiety can be caused by material displeasure or everyday problems. These factors significantly reduce a person’s self-esteem and can provoke depression. Stressful situations, regular overstrain of the nervous system leads to its exhaustion, and the level of sensitivity decreases. The person becomes irritable, can get upset over trifles, and practically does not feel positive emotions.

Severe somatic conditions. Loss of social status, pain, and restriction of movement have a very negative impact on the state of the nervous system. Depression is often found in people with cardiovascular pathologies, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Gender: In the female half of humanity, this condition occurs more often than in men. The reason for this may be hormonal changes or stress caused by numerous responsibilities and worries in women.

Clinical depression can also be triggered by taking certain medications.

Signs of the disease appear due to interruptions in the transmission of impulses in the brain. The severity of the symptoms directly depends on the severity of the condition and the personal characteristics of the patient.

How to define clinical depression? The following characteristic symptoms of this condition can be identified.

1. Loss of interests. In this state, a person loses interest in everything. He is not drawn to entertainment and previously liked activities. When the disease is severe, people complain of an absolute absence of any feelings, a feeling that they are separated from the world by a solid wall.
2. Sudden decrease in mood. The patient feels helpless, useless and useless. He is constantly in a depressed mood. Loss of meaning in life and suicidal thoughts may develop, self-esteem decreases, and a feeling of fear arises. As a result, the patient becomes timid and indecisive.
3. Physical symptoms. As the disease progresses, the patient’s well-being deteriorates, appetite disappears, weakness is felt, sleep is disturbed, and performance decreases. The patient suffers from headaches, thinking slows down noticeably, and it becomes difficult for him to perform his usual duties.
4. Behavior change. In this state, the patient's behavior changes noticeably. He suddenly becomes withdrawn, avoids people, refuses to communicate. An inadequate reaction to a familiar situation may occur: the patient may cry, show irritation or aggression.

Clinical - how is it different from ordinary depression?

Normal is any sad, bad and depressed mood. And in the clinical form, the patient’s condition deteriorates quite quickly. At the beginning of the disease, the patient is not paid special attention, attributing it to fatigue. However, after a few days, his condition may suddenly worsen: the patient stops leaving the apartment, eating, talking or doing anything.

Important! In severe cases of the disease, suicide attempts, severe mental disorders, hallucinations and delusional thoughts may occur.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you notice the slightest symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is recommended to consult with the following specialists:

1. Psychotherapist. This specialist will help you find the cause of depressive disorder and learn techniques to strengthen your psyche.
2. Neurologist or psychiatrist. An experienced and qualified doctor is able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

This condition requires drug treatment, therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.

Diagnosis of the disease

To prescribe effective treatment, it is necessary to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.

An important method for identifying the disease and determining the severity is the questionnaire developed by WHO. Clinical depression is very easily diagnosed by talking to a psychiatrist. After listening to the patient’s complaints, he is able to identify signs and make a diagnosis.

Recently, to confirm the diagnosis, a method of measuring the concentration of biomarkers in the blood has been used.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of the disease must be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist.

Important! Usually, independent treatment ends unsuccessfully or causes a worsening of the condition.

For effective treatment, the following methods are used:

1. Psychotherapy.
2. Drug treatment.

Clinical depression during pregnancy requires special attention. After conducting an examination, the doctor will determine how to treat this condition.

Drugs for depression

The most effective medicines can be divided into the following groups:

1. Antidepressants. Drugs in this group help increase the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain, thereby helping to get rid of the following signs of the disease: motor retardation, apathy, and low mood. But these drugs act as they accumulate in the body. The result of the treatment will be visible in 10-20 days.
2. Normotimics. They help to reduce the activity of the nervous system, as a result, its condition is normalized and the patient’s mood significantly improves. To speed up the therapeutic effect, they are prescribed in combination with antidepressants.
3. Tranquilizers. These drugs can relieve the patient from feelings of fear, anxiety, and normalize appetite and sleep.

Important! Taking drugs in this group can cause addiction, so it should be prescribed by a doctor.

1. Neuroleptics. Drugs in this group slow down the transmission of impulses in the brain, thereby having an inhibitory effect on the nervous system. Prescribed for aggressive states, hallucinations and delusions.

Important! When prescribing drug therapy, the doctor also takes into account the patient’s age.

In some situations, folk remedies are prescribed to help with medications.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a necessary method of treating depression. It helps the sick person to understand the root causes that caused the formation of this condition, improve it and prevent recurrences of the disease. For this, various techniques are used: hypnosis, behavioral and humanistic therapy, psychoanalysis.

Prevention

The following preventive measures will help prevent the disease:

• active way of life;
• timely treatment of any diseases;
• uniform alternation of work and rest;

A timely visit to a doctor at the slightest symptoms of depression will also help to avoid dangerous consequences.

Disease prognosis

Treatment of this condition helps reduce symptoms after a few months. Medical studies have proven that in some cases recurrent depression occurs. If the symptoms of the disease have not been completely cured, then there is a possibility of relapse.
Such patients require constant treatment to avoid worsening the condition.

Correct diagnosis, timely treatment, strict adherence to all doctor’s instructions will help get rid of the disease.

Why is clinical depression dangerous?

In such a depressed state, the patient is able to lose work and communication with others. Difficulties that cause depression can lead the patient to suicide. Treatment reduces the possibility of consequences and the risk of suicide.

For clinical depression, timely diagnosis and treatment are very important. Usually, drug treatment in combination with psychotherapy quickly returns the patient to normal life.

A quarter of the world's inhabitants have experienced clinical depression at least once in their lives. This disease is characterized by loss of interest in life and thoughts of suicide.

Recently, clinical depression, known since ancient times, has become widespread. But when medicine was just beginning to develop, it did not try to cure this disease. It was believed that a person was possessed by the devil, which exorcists were engaged in expelling.

Clinical depression: what is it?

Clinical depression, or classic acute depression, or major depression, or major depressive disorder is a psychosomatic pathology characterized by a pronounced mental disorder, the manifestations of which are noticeable over a long period of time.

The patient loses the desire to communicate with others, he does not receive any pleasure from life.

Causes

The development of the disease does not depend on age or membership in a particular social group.

Major depressive disorder can be caused by a variety of factors:

Symptoms and first signs

The development of clinical depression is accompanied by:

The above symptoms may include:

Diagnosis and treatment of the disease

The disease is diagnosed based on the patient’s responses, taking into account the objective clinical picture.

To confirm the diagnosis, the concentration of depression markers is measured. This is the name given to certain chemicals that are released into the blood during depressive disorders.

Psychotherapy and medication are used to treat major depressive disorder.

To cure the manifestations of the disease, psychotherapy uses a variety of techniques:

• behavioral therapy;
• humanistic therapy;
• hypnosis;
• psychoanalysis;
• neurolinguistic programming.

In the process of communicating with the patient, the psychologist looks for the root cause of the disease, pushes the patient to look for positive moments in life, convinces him of the possibility of achieving goals, helps him gain confidence in his abilities and increase self-esteem, and teaches him to control the situation.

Psychologists also use in their work:

• various trainings, during which the patient is taught to relax and walk with a smile, head held high, shoulders back and back straight;
• tests that train memory and concentration;
• calming breathing;
• physical exercise;
• situational scenes.

Classes with the patient can be conducted individually or in a group.

Drug treatment includes:

But medications should only be selected by a doctor, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient, since if used incorrectly, they can lead to worsening of the condition and side effects.

Prevention

The following will help prevent the development of clinical depression and other disorders:

• active lifestyle;
• proper alternation of work and rest;
• timely treatment of all emerging diseases;
• See a doctor at the first signs of a mental disorder.

Video: Ways to fight

Clinical depression or major depressive disorder is an acute form of mental illness characterized by severe clinical symptoms: persistently depressed mood, loss of interest in others, and suicidal thoughts. The acute form of the disease can be replaced by a chronic disorder, long-term and sluggish, but also requiring professional treatment.

An acute form of depression can occur in any person, regardless of his age, gender, nationality and other factors.

Some scientists believe that major depressive disorder develops in people who have a genetic predisposition to mental illness. According to others, depression is caused by a combination of several traumatic factors, one of which is heredity.

An acute mental disorder can be caused by:

Symptoms

Symptoms of clinical depression arise due to disturbances in the transmission of impulses in the brain; their severity depends on the severity of the disease and the patient’s character traits.

The diagnosis is considered confirmed if the patient exhibits 2-3 or more signs of the disease simultaneously for 2 weeks or more.

Typical symptoms of depression include:

With clinical depression, the patient's condition deteriorates quite quickly. At the beginning of the illness, a person seems to those around him only slightly tired, taciturn, sad, but after a few days his condition can sharply worsen; at the height of the disease, many patients refuse to leave the house, eat, talk or do anything. In the most severe cases, suicide attempts, auto-aggression, severe mental disorders, including delusions and hallucinations occur.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of a disease called “major depressive disorder” should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Unfortunately, attempts to cope with the disease on your own or with the help of a psychologist most often end in failure and can cause the disease to worsen.

For major depressive disorder, treatment should begin by taking special medications and visiting a psychotherapist.

Drugs for depression

The most effective medications include the following:

Psychotherapy

For all types of depression, psychotherapy is mandatory; this gives patients the opportunity to understand what causes the development of depression. This helps not only to improve the patient’s condition, but also to avoid a recurrence of a depressive episode. Psychotherapy also helps to understand and cope with fears, complexes, psychological trauma and other negative events that have left a deep mark on a person’s mind.

For depression, timely and professional help is very important. In most cases, with medication and the help of a psychotherapist, patients quickly get rid of all signs of depression and return to normal life.

Clinical depression is a mental disorder that is severe and long-lasting. Another name for the condition is “acute depression.” The patient cannot cope with this disease on his own. Therefore, qualified assistance from specialists is necessary.

Causes of clinical depression

Anyone can experience this mental disorder. Regardless of age, gender, social status or race.

Causes of acute depression:

1. Biological.

In the human brain there are special substances that transmit information from one neuron to another. These are neurotransmitters. An increase or decrease in these hormones can lead to clinical depression.

2. Cognitive.

People with low self-esteem and negative thought patterns are prone to depression.

3. Female gender.

Women experience acute depression more often than men. Perhaps this is due to the hormonal characteristics of the female body, their social status, and an increased sense of responsibility (for the family, for the children, for the home, etc.).

4. Serious illnesses.

People with severe physical illnesses are at risk.

5. Side effect from medications.

6. Situational.

Clinical depression often occurs after various life situations. People have a hard time with divorces, financial losses, deaths of loved ones, layoffs from work, etc.

Clinical picture of acute depression

Symptoms of the disease are caused by changes in the brain. Neurotransmitters are unable to deliver signals in a timely manner or even stop transmitting them to nerve cells.

Signs of clinical depression:

• feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and hopelessness;
• lack of interest in everyday affairs and activities (work, communication, sex are uninteresting; interest in hobbies and hobbies disappears; nothing improves the patient’s mood);
• changes in sleep (some suffer from insomnia, while others cannot get enough sleep);
• changes in appetite (some patients are extremely hungry, and some cannot bring themselves to swallow even a bite);
• changes in psychomotor reactions (some people “sleep while walking”, while others become nervous and restless);
• constant fatigue (even when doing the simplest things);
• feelings of guilt and worthlessness;
• self-flagellation and constant self-criticism, even self-hatred;
• difficulties with concentration (difficulty making a decision, concentrating on a problem, remembering something).

Clinical depression very often causes the brain to send pain impulses to various parts of the body. Common physical symptoms:

• chronic back pain, worsening during depression;
• headaches, migraines;
• muscle and joint pain;
• chest pain not related to heart problems;
• frequent disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract (heartburn, constipation, nausea, vomiting, etc.);
• insomnia or oversleeping (strength is not restored during night sleep, a person feels tired all day);
• decreased or increased appetite;
• dizziness.

If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, we can talk about acute depression.

Treatment of clinical depression

As mentioned above, you cannot do without the help of specialists. It is hardly possible to cope with depression on your own. And under no circumstances should you ignore it. Clinical depression is a borderline condition between mental health and illness. If a person crosses this line, then it will no longer be possible to regain mental health.