Major depressive disorder: what it is, symptoms and treatment

Major depressive disorder or classic depression, also called unipolar, is a mental health disorder that is usually caused by low hormone production.

Normally, the most common symptoms include a feeling of emptiness, lack of interest in routine activities, terminal insomnia and sadness for no apparent reason, which last for at least two weeks at a time, which is why it is one of the most disabling psychological disorders, as that the person is unable to 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 that it is linked to hormonal disorders, childhood events, trauma and hereditary genetic factors. In this way, the diagnosis of major depression is made by the psychiatrist or psychologist by observing physical symptoms, such as insomnia, together with the person’s report, so that appropriate treatment can then be recommended.

Main symptoms

Major depression can present numerous symptoms, most of which result from a reduction in hormones necessary for good physical and psychological functioning, such as:

• Difficulty falling asleep after waking up during the night;
• Physical and mental fatigue;
• Recurrent thoughts 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 over 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

To correctly diagnose 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 ruling out any other disease, the person is referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, who arrives at the diagnosis through observation of at least 5 symptoms together, for at least 2 weeks in a row, two of which are necessarily the lack of pleasure in doing activities that were previously a source of joy and a depressed mood.

How treatment is carried out

Treatment for major depressive disorder can be carried out under the supervision of a psychologist or psychoanalyst, through psychotherapy. These professionals help people understand what is happening with their feelings, sensations and observations of the world, with the aim of reaching more realistic answers to the personal issues that cause suffering.

In some cases, the psychiatrist may recommend the use of antidepressant medications according to the characteristics of the person’s depressive disorder, and the treatment time may vary from person to person. Check out which antidepressants are most used and their side effects.

Treatment, when carried out in accordance with professional guidelines and the person’s commitment, tends to show improvement after the 4th week, but even when signs of major depression disappear completely, and drug treatment ends, it is recommended that psychotherapy sessions continue. , as depression may eventually return.