"Depression is related to the normal emotions of sadness and bereavement, but it does not remit when the external cause of these emotions dissipates, and it is disproportionate to their causes" (Belmaker, 2008, p. 55). Severe states of depression often have no external precipitating cause, but it is hard to truly know if there was an external cause or not when dealing with severe depression (Belmaker, 2008). It is also known to occur with other mental health conditions such as anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, etc. Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, which equals about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. It is also the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44. While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32 and is more prevalent in women than in men (Numbers Count, 2014). .
Diagnosis of Major Depression.
"The diagnosis of major depression requires a distinct change of mood, characterized by sadness or irritability and is accompanied by some psychophysiological changes" (Belmaker, 2008, p. 56). Major depression can be easy to diagnose from anyone with experience dealing with depression, but understanding the cause of the depression, internally or externally, can be a tough challenge (Carey, 2013). Symptoms of major depression can vary in impact and severity, and many people who have major depression have a combination of multiple symptoms listed. .
List of Symptoms.
- Feelings of sadness, emptiness or unhappiness.
- Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, such as sex.
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much.
- Tiredness and lack of energy, so that even small tasks take extra effort.
- Changes in appetite - often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people.