Depressive disorders interfere with daily life and functioning, causing pain for those suffering and their loved ones. They include major depression, dysthymic disorder, psychotic depression, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder. Symptoms include persistent sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, and changes in appetite or sleep. Depressive disorders are caused by biological and chemical differences in the brain as well as inherited traits, hormones, traumatic life events, other health conditions, and substance abuse. Effective treatments include medications like SSRIs and SNRIs as well as psychotherapy to help patients adjust difficulties, develop healthy behaviors and coping strategies, and set realistic goals.

1. DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

2. “ It is an illness that interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and
causes the pain for both the person suffering from disorder and those
who cares about him/her”.

3. TYPES OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
Depressive disorder Come in different forms:
• Major Depression
It is manifested by the combination of symptoms that interfere with the
ability to work, study, sleep, eat, or enjoy a pleasurable life.
• Dysthymic Disorder
It involves long _ term ( two year or longer ) less severe symptoms that do
not disable but keep one from functioning normally or feel good.

4. • Psychotic Depression
It occurs when a severe depressive illness is accompanied by some form
psychosis, such as break with reality, hallucinations, delusions.
• Postpartum Depression
It is diagnosed if a new mother develops a major depressive episode
within one month after delivery.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
It is characterised by the onset of depressive illness during winter months.

5. • Bipolar Disorder
It is also called mani depressive illness characterised by cycling mood
changes: severe high ( mania ) and low ( depression ).
Symptoms of Depressive Disorder
1. Persistent sadness
2. Hopelessness
3. Feeling of guilt
4. Helplessness

6. 5. Loss of interest
6. Fatigue
7. Difficulty concentrating
8. Insomnia
9. Restlessness
10. Irritability
11. Appetite/ weight loss or overeating
12. Headache

7. CAUSES OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
1. Biological differences
People with depression appear to have physical changes in their brain.
2. Brain chemistry
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that play a role in depression.
Changes in the function and effect of these neurotransmitters may play a
significant role in depression and its treatment.
3. Hormones
Changes in body’s balance of hormones may be involved in causing
depression.

8. 4. Inherited traits
Depression is most common in the people whose blood relatives also
have this condition.
Risk factors of Depressive Disorder
Factors that increase the risk of developing or triggering depression are:
1. Certain personality traits such as low self-esteem, being too
dependant, or pessimistic.
2. Traumatic or stressful life events such as death of a beloved one.

9. 3. Blood relatives with the history of depressive disorder or bipolar
disorder.
4. Alcohol/ substance abuse.
5. History of other psychological disorder such as anxiety disorder,
eating disorder or PTSD.
6. Chronic illness such as cancer, stroke, or heart disease.

10. TREATMENT OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
Medications and psychotherapy are effective for treating depressive
disorder.
• Medications
Certain medications are used to treat depression.
1. Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs)
2. Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRIs)
3. Atypical antidepressants
4. Tricyclic antidepressants

11. • Psychotherapy
it can help the patient:
1. Adjust the crisis or other current difficulty.
2. Identity negative beliefs and behaviours and replace them with
healthy, positive ones.
3. Explore relationships and develop positive interactions with others.
4. Find better ways to cope with depression.
5. Set realistic goals for life.