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Depression, known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is an increasing mental health disorder in individuals worldwide. It occurs when an individual's mood is depressed for most of the day and they lose interest in most activities, even the activities they used to find enjoyable. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is expected to rank as the leading cause of disease burden globally by 2030.

Understanding depression is really important because various studies suggest that one in four people, i.e., 25% worldwide, will suffer from a mental health or neurological disorder at some point in their lives.
In this blog post, we will explore a quick overview and description of major depressive disorder, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

According to DSM-5 guidelines, MDD can be diagnosed in an individual if they have at least five symptoms out of the following nine symptoms every day for at least two weeks. One of these symptoms must be out of these 1) depressed mood or 2) loss of interest or pleasure.

Depressed mood: feeling of sadness and hopelessness for most of the day, nearly every day.
Loss of interest or pleasure: individuals may lose interest in most activities.
Fatigue or tiredness: A constant feeling of fatigue and lack of energy.
Insomnia or hypersomnia: difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or sleeping more than normal (hypersomnia) for most days.
Significant weight changes: weight loss or gain, or changes in appetite.
Lack of concentration—difficulty focusing, thinking, or making decisions.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt—Individuals may blame themselves for everything and feel guilty.
Psychomotor changes: having a slowing down of thought and physical movement or the opposite; these changes are often noticed by others.
Thoughts of ending their life—frequent thoughts of death These types of thoughts come very frequently to individuals.

Causes of MDD

Biological Factors

Major Depressive Disorder has a significant biological factor, with a lifetime prevalence of 8% to 25%. Women are twice as likely to develop MDD compared to men, due to factors like hormonal changes and childbirth. Research suggests that the prevalence of depression has increased in recent generations, with rates nearing 20–25%.

This rise may be linked to the growing use of drugs and alcohol. Additionally, a person who experiences one depressive episode has a 50% chance of experiencing another; this likelihood increases to 75% after two episodes and 90% after three episodes.

Cognitive Factors

Negative thought patterns are a primary cognitive cause of MDD. Individuals with consistent negative thought patterns like hopelessness, worthlessness, and helplessness are at a higher risk of developing depression. For example, if someone believes they are the problem and their situation is hopeless, so they cannot change, these thoughts can trigger depressive episodes.

Interpersonal Factors

Individuals who are antisocial, lack quality relationships, or experience social isolation are at a higher risk of depression. Traumatic life experiences, like the loss of a loved one or emotional abandonment, can also trigger depressive episodes. Additionally, social isolation due to any reason can evoke the feelings of loneliness and despair that may lead to MDD.

Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder

There are different methods used to treat MDD, but the two most popular ones are medication and psychotherapy. Combining these treatments has been proven to be more successful in many circumstances.

Medications

Two popular types of antidepressants are used to treat depression, and they may cause side effects such as nervousness, restlessness, and sexual problems, such as reduced sexual desire. Two most popular medications used in the treatment are:
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): These are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): This includes venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).

Psychotherapy

Two types of psychotherapy are particularly effective in treating depression:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is used to fix mindsets or restructure thoughts (cognitive restructuring). Different methods, like rationalization of thoughts, behavioral activation, and mindfulness, are used to alter the negative thought patterns of patients.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): IPT focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning to reduce depressive symptoms.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

In some extreme cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used. In this, electric shocks are passed through the brain of the patient. It has some side effects, like memory loss, but it is effective in the short term.

Conclusion

In conclusion Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex mental health disorder that affects so many people worldwide.

Understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatment options is important because it is not just a temporary feeling of sadness; it is a serious disorder that can affect an individual’s life and well-being.If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, it is really important, and I would encourage you to seek professional help. Remember, there is nothing wrong with you for feeling this way; you are not weak, and you are not the problem; it is not your fault; it is a disorder and should be treated like one, and with proper support and help, recovery is possible.

Recommended Resources

For US

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Phone: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Website: Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Crisis Text Line

Text: HOME to 741741

Website: Crisis Text Line

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Website: NAMI

Mental Health America (MHA)

Website: MHA

For canada

Crisis Services Canada

Phone: 1-833-456-4566

Text: 45645

Website: Crisis Services Canada

Kids Help Phone

Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Website: Kids Help Phone

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Website: CAMH

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Website: CMHA

References

Malhi, G. S., & Mann, J. J. (2018). Depression. The Lancet, 392(10161), 2299–2312. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31948-2.

The World Health Report 2001: Mental Disorders affect one in four people. (2001, September 28). https://www.who.int/news/item/28-09-2001-the-world-health-report-2001-mental-disorders-affect-one-in-four-people.

Weiner, I. B., & Craighead, W. E. (2010). The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology, Volume 3. John Wiley & Sons. https://amzn.to/4cr3WlB

Weiner, I. B., & Craighead, W. E. (2010a). The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology, Volume 2. John Wiley & Sons. http://books.google.ie/books?id=pa5vKqntwikC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Corsini+Encyclopedia+of+Psychology,+Volume&hl=&cd=2&source=gbs_ap

Bains, N., & Abdijadid, S. (2023, April 10). Major Depressive Disorder. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559078/.

A Quick Guide to the Hidden Struggles of Depression: Understanding Major Depressive Disorder and How to Overcome It