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Major depressive disorder or classic depression, also called unipolar disorder, is a mental health disorder that is usually caused by low hormone production.
Usually the most common symptoms include feeling empty, lack of interest in routine activities, terminal insomnia and sadness for no apparent reason, which are maintained for at least two weeks in a row, and for this reason it is one of the most disabling psychological disorders ever that the person cannot maintain routine activities such as getting out of bed.
Because it affects the mind and body, the main cause of depression has not yet been completely clarified, but it is known to be linked to the disorder of hormones, childhood events, traumas and hereditary genetic factors. Thus, the diagnosis of major depression is made by the psychiatrist or psychologist by observing the physical symptoms, such as insomnia, together with the person's report, so that appropriate treatment can be recommended.
Main symptoms
Major depression can present numerous symptoms, most of them due to the reduction of hormones necessary for good physical and psychological functioning, such as:
- Difficulty falling asleep after waking up at night;
- Physical and mental tiredness;
- Recurrent thinking about death or suicide;
- Excess weight loss;
- Loss of appetite and libido;
- Feeling of emptiness;
- Pessimism;
- Anguish;
- Sadness.
Difficulty sleeping when lying down is a classic symptom of anxiety, which may or may not be present in depression. See other signs of anxiety and how to treat it.
Possible causes
The cause of major depressive disorder has many factors such as major losses, trauma and daily stress for long periods of time. However, it is known that the decrease in hormone production is present in all cases, which raises the hypothesis that there may be some genetic factor, since, even in people without a history of hormonal diseases, this disorder can also be observed .
How to confirm the diagnosis
For the correct diagnosis of major depression, the general practitioner may order laboratory tests to rule out other diseases, including those that affect the production of hormones, such as hyper and hypothyroidism, for example.
After discarding any other disease, the person is referred to the psychiatrist or psychologist, who arrives at the diagnosis by observing at least 5 symptoms together, for at least 2 consecutive weeks, two of them, necessarily, the lack of pleasure in doing activities that were once a reason for joy and depressed mood.
How treatment is done
Treatment for major depressive disorder can be done with the accompaniment of a psychologist or psychoanalyst, through psychotherapy. These professionals help the person to understand what is happening with their feelings, sensations and observations of the world, in order to arrive at more realistic answers to the personal questions that cause suffering.
The psychiatrist will participate in the treatment, in cases where it is necessary to use medicines. However, even when prescribed antidepressants, it is only for a short period of time, so that the person can return to doing daily activities such as sleeping at least 8 hours and eating normally. Check out which antidepressants are most used and their side effects.
Treatment when done according to the person's professional guidelines and commitment, tends to show improvement after the 4th week, but even when the signs of major depression disappear completely, and the drug treatment ends, it is recommended that the psychotherapy sessions continue , because depression may eventually return.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
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- AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION. What Is Depression?. Available in: . Accessed on 25 Aug 2020