Several types of depression exist. Depressed (or irritable) mood or a lack of interest in pleasurable activities is characteristic of all sorts, and all sorts of types have to cause impairment in functioning. There are several differences in symptom presentation, however, and treatment approaches may vary somewhat. The different kinds of depression range from the following:
In major depression, qualifiers can be added to the diagnosis, for example "atypical," "melancholic," or "postpartum onset." Such qualifiers describe a specific pattern of symptom presentation. For example, increased appetite, rejection sensitivity, along with a sensation of heaviness from the limbs characterize an atypical major depressive episode.
Melancholic depression is most related to sleep and appetite loss and psychomotor retardation. It's also seen as a a phenomenon known as a diurnal variation of mood - feeling much worse in the morning with some improvement in mood by evening.
Major depression and dysthymic disorder are the most common forms of depression. Dysthymic disorder is more chronic with persistent sadness nearly daily not less than 2 years. In seasonal affective disorder, the depressive symptoms are the same as in major depression but occur exclusively within one season.
Bipolar depression is the depressed phase of the condition called bpd. In many cases, the symptom presentation of depression doesn't fit the criteria as described in the DSMIV-TR. Symptoms, however, may be causing impairment in functioning. The diagnosis of depressive disorder not otherwise specified may be used in those cases. Even though kind of depression informs as to prognosis and finest treatment modality, in general, all types react to both medication therapy and talk therapy.
Some tests used in research protocols examine levels of certain stress hormones or look at brain functioning. They are research based only, however, and have no utility in clinical practice. Your doctor may order blood tests to check on for just about any underlying conditions that may mimic depression for example low thyroid hormone. Blood tests or electrocardiograms may be ordered for baseline purposes, depending on the medication that will be prescribed, as some medications may have effects on certain organ systems in the body.
lthough not really a required a part of an evaluation, some clinicians will use various rating scales and self-report forms to assist in the evaluation process. Scales might be useful in tracking the continuing development of the depression in a quantifiable way. Comprehensive diagnostic scales can advice the clinician in going through a differential diagnostic process in order to exclude other causes for that symptoms before establishing a diagnosis.
Such scales may indeed establish a diagnosis of a depression, but they're based on the same clinical criteria used with no scale. These scales are mainly useful in research to determine reliability in diagnosis and to increase the validity from the study.
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1. Some medical conditions and treatments can cause depression
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