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Major Depressive Disorder

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Major
depressive disorder (also known as clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression, or
unipolar disorder) is a mental disorder characterized by persistent low mood as well as low self-
esteem and a loss of interest in everyday, enjoyable activities. If you are experiencing major
depression, it may become difficult for you to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy your time with
friends. Depression affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional
and physical problems. It may lead to a feeling as if your life isn't worth living.

Some people experience clinical depression once in their life, while others experience it several
times. Depression in men often goes unreported. Men are less likely to seek help or talk about their
experience. Repressing their feelings can result in violent behaviour directed both inwardly and
outwardly. It can also result in an increase in illness, suicide, and homicide. Signs of depression in
men may include:

Irritability

Anger

Drug and alcohol abuse

Common triggers of depression include:

Grief over the loss of a loved one

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Social isolation

Major life changes

Personal conflicts

Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

 Symptoms

 When to see a docto

 Prepare for your initial visit

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  Tests and diagnosis

 Treatment and services

Treatment choice for major depressive disorder depends on the outcome of the initial medical
evaluation.

There are a number of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to
treat depressive disorders. These include:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): doctors often start by prescribing an

SSRI. These medications are safer and generally cause fewer side effects than other
types of antidepressants.

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): work in a manner similar to SSRIs

Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs): this is one of the few

antidepressants not frequently associated with sexual side effects.

Atypical antidepressants: these don't fit into any other antidepressant categories and are
thought to have a low risk of sexual side effects.

Tricyclic antidepressants: these antidepressants can be very effective, but tend to cause
more severe side effects.

MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors): these may be prescribed when other medications
haven't worked, because they can have serious side effects.

Sometimes your doctor will try a variety of antidepressants before finding the medication or
combination of medications most effective for you. Sometimes the dosage must be increased to
be effective. Antidepressant medications must be taken regularly for as many as eight weeks
before the full therapeutic effect occurs. You must never stop taking antidepressants without
talking to your doctor first. Stopping treatment abruptly or missing several doses can cause
withdrawal symptoms, and quitting suddenly may cause a sudden worsening of depression.

If you are experiencing a mild form of depression, you may benefit from psychotherapy alone.
Psychotherapy helps you to:

Adjust to a crisis

Develop positive interactions with others

Find better ways to cope and solve problems

Identify issues that contribute to your depression

Regain control in your life and help ease depression symptoms

Develop the ability to tolerate and accept distress using healthier behaviour
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 However, if your symptoms are moderate to severe, you will likely be prescribed
antidepressants as well. It is not unusual to have a combination of both methods - medication to
gain quick relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with bigger problems.
Depending on the diagnosis and severity of your symptoms, your therapist may prescribe
medication and/or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for
depression.

 Patient support

 Proposed use of medication

The information provided on our website is for educational purposes and not intended to be a
substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always seek the advice of your
doctor or other healthcare professional provider.
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