What are the types of depression?

From the book – Chapter 9: Depression and Low Mood

Types and patterns

• Major depressive disorder (single or recurrent episodes): one or more episodes of major depression.

• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): chronic low mood for at least two years, with fewer symptoms than major depression but longer duration.

• Depression with anxious distress: depression accompanied by significant anxiety.

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): occurs in certain seasons (often winter) linked to reduced daylight; light therapy can help.

• Postpartum depression: after childbirth, beyond the common baby blues. Needs professional attention.

• Depression in bipolar disorder: depressive episodes in people who also have manic or hypomanic episodes; treatment differs from unipolar depression.

• Depression with psychotic features: severe depression accompanied by delusions or hallucinations; requires urgent psychiatric care.

Read the full chapter – Chapter 9: Depression and Low Mood

Stories from real life

• Grey Weeks – Kavya, sixteen, used to dance in her room and chat for hours with her cousin in Chennai. Over the last two months she stopped answering calls,…
• The Quiet Farmer – Ramesh, fifty-one, farms three acres near Nagpur. After two poor harvests and a loan he cannot repay, he has become silent and short-tempered. He no longer…
• After the Baby – Fatima gave birth to a healthy girl six weeks ago in Dubai, far from her mother in Karachi. Everyone says she should be happy. Instead she…
• Grandfather Stops Reading – Joseph, seventy-three, lives with his son's family in Kochi. Since his wife died last year and his knees stopped him from his daily walk, he has…

More on this topic: Depression and low mood – signs, causes and the way back

More questions

• What causes depression?
• Depression across age groups – what to know about depression
• Understanding depression and suicide risk
• Understanding diagnosis and assessment – depression
• How is depression treated?
• Psychotherapy in the treatment of depression
• Medicines in the treatment of depression
• Lifestyle and self-help — support professional treatment in the treatment of depression
• Common myths about depression
• Understanding the thinking patterns of depression
• Is it sadness or depression? The signs to look for
• What can I do for myself when I feel low?