Uticopa Blog

There are distinct categories of Depression which can exhibit marked differences in symptoms and behaviour.  Below are 9 major types.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
People who live in cold, northern climates or areas of the world where long periods of darkness are the norm will recognise this SAD syndrome only too well.  But, equally, there are patients everywhere who suffer from SAD each time the sun goes down, but feel better in daylight. Typical symptoms: altered sleep patterns, with overall increased amount of sleep, difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, increased lethargy and fatigue, apathy, sadness and/or irritability, increased appetite, carbohydrate craving and weight gain, and decreased physical activity.

Winter's reduction in daylight hours, or the normal blackness of night, desynchronizes the body clock and disturbs the circadian rhythms. It is usually treated by morning exposure to bright artificial light. By providing appropriately timed light exposure, the body's circadian rhythms become resynchronized and the symptoms of SAD resolve.

Bipolar Disorder (BPD)
Bipolar Disorder (BPD) or manic depression is characterized by extreme highs and lows. These swings alternate like an emotional rollercoaster. Typical symptoms, listed under mania and depression.

Mania: increased energy, activity, and restlessness, excessively ‘high’, overly good, euphoric mood, extreme irritability, racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another, distractibility, not concentrating well, little sleep needed, unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers, poor judgment, spending sprees, a lasting period of behaviour that is different from usual, increased sexual drive, abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications, provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behaviour, and denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

Depression: lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood, feelings of hopelessness or pessimism, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex, decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being ‘slowed down’, difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions, restlessness or irritability, sleeping too much, or can't sleep, change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain, chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury, thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia is a milder form of manic depression, characterized by hypomania (a mild form of mania) alternating with mild bouts of depression. The symptoms are similar to those of Bipolar Disorder (above), but less severe.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)
Following pregnancy, many women experience some type of emotional disturbance. The physical stress of childbirth, the rapid change in hormone levels, and the extreme responsibility of having a new baby all contribute to a potentially fragile state of mind. These feelings, which can last several days after birth, are characterized by grief, tearfulness, and irritability. When these feelings last weeks, months, or even years, the disorder is characterized as postpartum depression. In extreme cases, a mother may even experience delusional thinking or hallucinations. There may be intrusive thoughts of suicide or of injuring the baby.

Medication-Induced Depression
Many people do not realize that a number of common prescription drugs have side-effects that can induce depression. For example: cardiac drugs and hypertensives, sedatives, steroids, stimulants, antibiotics, antifungal drugs, analgesics. Usually, once the offending medication is discontinued, the depressive symptoms stop as well.

Mood-swings
These often take the form of a range of emotions in a single day. Mood swings should not be confused with Bipolar Disorder, in which extreme moods persist for weeks and months at a time.

Existential Depression
This is brought on by a crisis of meaning or purpose in one's life. Any significant transition, especially a change of roles in family or work, can trigger this crisis in meaning.

Dysthymia
Dysthymia is a long-term, less severe, though chronic form of depression, keeping one from functioning at full steam. Typical symptoms: a depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, for at least two years, sleep disturbances, difficulty experiencing pleasure, a hopeless, negative, or pessimistic outlook, low energy, lethargy, or fatigue, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, persistent physical symptoms (such as headaches, digestive disorders or chronic pain) that do not respond to treatment.

Next in the series: How to recognise the signs of depression in a loved one.