What Are Depressive Disorders?
Depressive disorders encompass a range of mental health conditions characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in most activities. These disorders can significantly impact an individual’s daily functioning, including their social, occupational, and personal life.
What Are The Symptoms Of Depressive Disorders?
Depressive disorders are a group of disorders each with their own symptoms.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Definition: Also known simply as depression, MDD is characterized by a persistently low mood and loss of interest in activities that lasts for at least two weeks. Symptoms include sadness, loss of interest in most pleasurable day-to-day activities, changes in weight and appetite, changes in sleep patterns, fatigue, self-defeating thoughts, worthlessness, hopelessness, and recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or attempts.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD): PDD is a chronic form of depression with symptoms that are less severe than major depression but last for at least two years. Symptoms include depressed mood on most days, changes in appetite, sleep, chronic feeling of fatigue, difficulties concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): A severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that includes emotional and physical symptoms that occur prior to menstruation and appear to resolve post menstruation. Symptoms include mood swings, irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, decrease interest in pleasurable activities, fatigue, changes in sleep and appetite, physical symptoms such as breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain, bloating.
Postpartum depression (PPD): PPD is a type of depression that occurs after childbirth. It can affect mothers and, in some cases, fathers, significantly impacting their ability to care for themselves and their newborn. PPD goes beyond the "baby blues," a term used to describe the transient mood swings and mild depressive symptoms many women experience after delivery. While the baby blues typically resolve within a few days to a week, postpartum depression is more severe and long-lasting, requiring medical intervention. Symptoms mimic those of depression, impact bonding with the newborn, and may include thoughts of harm to self and new born. Postpartum depression is considered a serious depressive disorder, and help should be sought out immediately.
Treatment-Resistant-Depression (TDR): TDR is a form of major depressive disorder that does not respond adequately to medication and psychotherapy. Symptoms progress and worsen despite multiple interventions. TDR often requires more intensive and multifaceted treatment approaches.
How Are Depressive Disorders Diagnosed?
Depressive disorders are diagnosed by licensed mental health professionals. At Mind Glow Solutions, our psychiatric providers believe that these disorders cannot be fully understood through diagnostic criteria alone. Rather, they must be approached from a biopsychosocial and cultural perspective. To accurately diagnose depressive disorders, our providers conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation that includes collecting your psychiatric and medical history, social and personal history, as well as gaining a true understanding of your lived experience.
How Are Depressive Disorders Treated
Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.
Dialetic Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Combines CBT with mindfulness techniques with the aim of teaching skills to manage emotions, cope with stress, and improve relationships.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Helps improve relationships and resolve conflicts that may contribute to depression.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Explories past unresolved conflicts and their impact on current behavior and mood. The aim is to understand unconscious processes affecting emotions and behavior.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT): Combines cognitive therapy with mindfulness practices. Helps client become aware of their thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental way.
Supportive Counseling: Provides emotional support and practical advice.
Medication
Antidepressants: SSRIs/SNRIs are commonly prescribed for depression. Atypical antidepressants such as wellbutrin, trazodone, and mirtazapine are often prescribed alone or in combination with SSRIs/SNRIs. Less common, older antidepressants such as triclyclics and MAOIs are utilized with caution .
Antipsychotics: Several second-generation antipsychotics have demonstrated efficacy in augmenting first line agents or may be used alone by utlizing their serotonergic properties.
Mood-Stabilizers/Anti-convulsants: May be prescribed to augment SSRI/SNRI or for symptoms that appear to have little or no response to commonly used agents. These may include lithium, valproate, and lamictal.
Alternative Agents: Atypical antidepressants may include wellbutrin, trazodone, and mirtazapine.
Novel Agents: More recently, newer medications have been approved for the treatment of major depression (Auvelity), postpartum depression (zuranolone), and treatment resistant depression (intranasal ketamine and IV-Ketamine).
Complementary | Integrative | Holistic | Non-Pharmacological Interventions
Lifestyle Modifications: Engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, and avoiding substances like alcohol and other depressants can support overall well-being and may complement OCD treatment.
Stress Management Techniques: Learning relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, yoga, meditation, therapeutic massages, and acupuncture can help individuals manage stress and improve overall mental health.
Self-Care Strategies: Establishing a consistent daily routine, setting boundaries such as learning when to say NO, practicing self-compassion, being kind to oneself, journaling, fostering relationships with supportive family and friends, spending time in nature, and engaging in hobbies are all ways to help improve overall mental health.
