More Than Just Gloomy Bouts: Major Depressive Disorder

Overview:

A constant feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest is a significant indicator of major depressive disorder. MDD or major depressive disorder is a mood disorder, which is also popular as clinical depression. It affects how one thinks, feels, and behaves and can have a huge impact on one’s emotional and physical well-being. Major depressive disorder is not a weakness and one simply can not recover from it in the blink of an eye. However, Depression clinical trials may help people suffering from depression by investigating novel therapeutic options for the disease.

In this blog, we will discuss the basics of major depressive disorder and how it not only creeps into the lives of the affected individuals but also the people around them. 

What Causes Major Depressive Disorder?

There is not a single causative factor for major depressive disorder. It is believed to be caused by a host of factors. These include:

• Biological differences: Those affected with depression are prone to physical changes in their brains. This change’s origin is yet unknown.
• Brain chemistry: Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that play a major role in depression. Disruption in the production or delivery of these chemicals can cause different psychiatric issues including Depression.
• Hormones: Alterations in the body’s balance of hormones may be the cause of depression in some people. 
• Inherited traits: People with a family history of depression are more prone to having it than those who do not have a family history.

Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder:

Although depression may only hit a person once in their life, sometimes people have multiple episodes with severe symptoms every time. The symptoms however may last a day or two or may persist longer. 

A few of the symptoms of the major depressive disorder include:

• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, tearfulness, or emptiness
• Anger gush, irritability, or frustration, even over petty matters
• Loss of interest in activities that were once cherished, such as hobbies, or sports
• Sleep issues, including insomnia or sleeping more than usual
• Tiredness and loss of energy, even minor tasks take extra effort
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Anxiety, distress, or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
• Feeling worthless fixating on past failures or self-doubt
• Issues with thinking, concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things
• Suicidal thoughts or even attempts 
• Unclear physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Complications of Major Depressive Disorder:

Depression has a lot to do with one’s mental and physical well-being. If it is not diagnosed at the right time, it may damage one’s personality and mental health to a great extent. 

Some of the complications associated with depression are:

• Pain or physical illness
• Excess weight or obesity
• Social isolation
• Suicidal thoughts
• Self-mutilation
• Anxiety 
• Drug abuse
• Family conflicts, relationships difficulties

Types of Major Depressive Disorder:

• Postpartum Depression: is known to affect women after having a baby. It creates acute, long-lasting feelings of worry, depression, and exhaustion, making it difficult for women to care for themselves and their newborns while still fulfilling their everyday obligations. Postpartum depression can happen weeks to months after giving birth.
• Psychotic Depression: is a severe mood disorder that often requires hospitalization. It is a type of depression with delusions or hallucinations.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder: is triggered by seasonal variations. This form of depression usually occurs during seasons when exposure to sunlight is reduced.
• Melancholic Depression: is a severe form of depression in which people lose interest in almost all activities.

How Does Major Depressive Disorder Affect The Body?

Depression can have a substantial impact on an individual’s physical health. Some of the most typically afflicted body systems are:

• Digestive System: One of the first signs of depression appears in the digestive tract. Cramps, gas pain, diarrhea, or constipation are among the symptoms. Depression and anxiety can both produce dyspepsia (indigestion).
• CNS (Central Nervous System): The sympathetic activity of the brain is greater in depressed people. It might also cause confusion and memory loss.
• Heart: The most typical symptoms of depression manifests in the cardiovascular system as increased heart rate and blood pressure. If the symptoms persist, cardiac arrest may occur.
• Respiratory System (breathing issues and asthma): Shortness of breath is caused by variations in the heart rate.
• Immune system: Depression is thought to weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to disease.

Criteria for Depression: Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

As per DSM-5, the criteria to diagnose major depressive disorder is that at least 5 or more symptoms must appear during the two-week period, along with depressed mood and loss of interest. In addition, all the symptoms that indicate any other medical condition must be excluded.

• Depressed mood
• Loss of interest
• Weight changes/loss or gain
• Insomnia or hypersomnia 
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation
• Fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness 
• Decreased concentration
• Suicidal thoughts 

In addition to the presence of any 5 of the above-mentioned symptoms, at least 4 of the additional symptoms listed below must be positive:

• Symptoms cause severe hindrance in daily functioning 
• Episodes of depression do not indicate any other medical condition
• No history of manic or hypomanic episodes 
• The episodes are not explained better by schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, etc.

Ways to Manage Depression:

Integrating healthy habits into your lifestyle along with medical treatment may help you manage symptoms of depression.

• Self-care: By introducing a healthy routine to your lifestyle you can bring a significant change to your overall health. Eating healthy, going for a walk or exercise, and getting enough sleep are some of the ways by which you can have a healthy lifestyle.
• Set small attainable goals: Set goals that are realistic and attainable. Start by taking small steps so that it keeps you going.
• Educate family and friends about MDD: It is important to educate family members as they are equally involved in your recovery.
• Seek support: Having a strong support system helps in managing depressive episodes more easily. 
• Understand the warning signs: Try to understand your triggers and work on them. In case you are not able to do so, you can always consult a mental health professional for guidance. 
• Follow your treatment plan: it is important to follow the treatment plan prescribed by the doctor. Abruptly stopping your medication or therapy can lead to withdrawal symptoms and worsen your mental health. 

Major Depressive Disorder and Quality of Life:

Depression can affect every element of your life, including how you sleep and eat, your relationships, your personal or professional life, your well-being, and your ability to focus. Furthermore, melancholy can have an effect on how you function at work, your level of focus, and, ultimately, your efficiency. According to experts, managing discouragement is critical since failing to do so can lead to serious problems in both your personal and professional life. Some people do not recognize the value of therapists. Finding the right therapist, on the other hand, can have a tremendous impact and be incredibly beneficial to your mental health.

The Bottomline:

Major Depressive Disorder is a debilitating condition that affects not only the individual suffering from it but also everyone around them. Knowing your symptoms and acting on them will help to assure better mental and physical wellness. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms comparable to depression, it is best to get checked out to rule out other disorders that may be related to depression and treat the core sickness. Additionally, many clinical research organizations around Illinois are conducting Mental Health clinical trials, exploring potential new treatment options. These clinical trials may be able to help those for whom the standard of care treatment no longer seems to work.