Major depressive disorder: when depression is constant and persistent

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People with major depressive disorder often have difficulty carrying out activities of daily living, as well as a profound loss of interest in almost everything and feelings of sadness.

major depressive disorder It is a mood disorder that causes significant difficulties in everyday life. Both a feeling of sadness and a loss of interest (anhedonia) occur, causing emotional and physical discomfort.

The person with this disorder may limit their leisure activities (that they used to enjoy before) due to lack of motivation and changes in your energy levels. At the same time, you may have several difficulties carrying out different daily activities, such as: getting up, carrying out your hygiene and personal hygiene routine, fulfilling academic or work responsibilities, etc.

On the other hand, The person experiences alterations in appetite and sleeping habits. And in more severe cases, you may have constant suicidal thoughts.

Symptoms

In addition to the previous symptoms, depression can occur in episodes (of varying duration) in which people can manifest the following symptoms:

Fatigue.Anxiety.Fatigue.Desire to cry. Sleep disturbances.Sadness feelings. Irritability or frustration.Feeling of emptiness or hopelessness. Require a lot of effort for small tasks. Fixation on negative aspects of the past and self-reproaches. Unexplained physical problems such as headaches and back pain. Loss of pleasure from most usual and pleasurable activities such as sexual relations, lhobbies or sports. Decreased speed of processing thoughts and speech.Recurrent thoughts about death and suicidal ideation that can lead to suicidal acts.

The presence of intense anxiety, feelings of guilt and hopelessness are symptoms that increase the risk of suicide. Therefore, it is important that patients with major depressive disorder have psychological help.

Types of depression

Depending on the main reason for its appearance, depressive symptoms present different symptoms. So, Depending on the symptomatology expressed and the therapist’s psychological evaluation, one or another type will be distinguished. of depression.

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Anxious depression: occurs when depressive symptoms are accompanied by unusual restlessness and worry, there is anxiety and ideas of losing control.Combined Features: its origin is related to the presence of other clinical conditions that include depression, in this case the person not only goes through depressive symptoms, but is also characterized by periods of time in which they present euphoria, high self-esteem and increased of energy.melancholic characteristics: when depressive symptoms are of greater intensity, with limitations in performing usual tasks such as waking up early in the morning, eating disorders due to deficit or excess, feelings of guilt or demotivation. Atypical features: It has to do with depressive symptoms in which it is possible to present feelings of happiness for moments, have a high appetite, a feeling of heaviness in the arms or legs, among others. Psychotic traits: appears in depressive clinical symptoms with hallucinations, implying a cognitive deterioration of another nature with possible connection or origin in other mental disorders. Catatonia: They are depressive characteristics that compromise the person’s motor functions, adopting fixed and rigid postures for a certain time or through uncontrolled, meaningless movements.Beginning in pregnancy and/or postpartum: its origin manifests itself during pregnancy or in the weeks after childbirth, it is biological in nature with neuronal involvement.Seasonal pattern: occurs with changes in climatic seasons and with less exposure to sunlight.

Risk factor’s

lThe factors inherent to the appearance of major depressive disorder They may originate from biological differences that determine physical changes in the brain.

Another factor has to do with brain chemistry and neurotransmitters. responsible for energetic activation and maintaining mood.

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Hormonal factors also have to do with depressive states, They can occur during pregnancy and postpartum, in thyroid problems, menopause and other disorders. In turn, the hereditary and learning factor that frequently occurs in blood relatives with depression.

Treatment of major depressive disorder

The main treatment for depression is medication accompanied by psychotherapy.

Antidepressants normalize the functioning of neurotransmitters, they are grouped into different subtypes depending on the neurotransmitter on which they act, whether serotonin, noraadrenaline or both. Normally improvement is observed between the third and fourth week of treatment.

The use of prescription drugs is essential in the recovery process. Psychological psychotherapy has proven to be a component that speeds up recovery alongside pharmacological treatment.

For its part, cognitive behavioral therapy has been found to be effective in the treatment of different depressive disorders.

The main objective of psychological treatment for major depressive disorder is to address depressive symptoms (to minimize their intensity) while identifying personality traits and styles that predispose depressive factors.

Once this is done, it is possible to work on modifying them, build tools for the early identification of symptoms and create strategies for the prevention of relapses.