An estimated that 16.2 million adults in the United States, or 6.7 percent of the adult population, have had at least one major depressive episode in a given year. Exploring different types of depression can be helpful as you build a better understanding of the symptoms you or your loved one may be experiencing.
Major Depression
Major depression (or major depressive disorder) affects how one feels, thinks, and behaves and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Some experience depression just once in their lifetime. Others have multiple episodes of it sporadically throughout theirs.
The symptoms of major depression include:
- Extreme sadness
- Lack of energy
- Irritability
- Changes in sleeping patterns
Major depressive disorder can develop at any age, but the median age at onset is 32.5 years old, and it is more prevalent in women than in men.
Treatment plans for major depressive disorder usually involve medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. More and more, research suggests these treatments may normalize brain changes associated with depression.