Depressive Disorders

A Broad Look at Some of the Worlds Most Common and Debilitating Disorders

An Overview
Depressive Disorder is a blanket term used to describe a
group of mental illnesses that share similarities regarding
neurotransmitters in the brain
Clinical Depression, or Unipolar Disorder, or Major
Depression, is defined by chronic, long and short-term
stretches of severe despair
Depressive Disorders, for the most part, are not
characterized by intermittent sadness
Significant medical and therapeutic advancements in recent
decades have been made in the effective treatment of mood
disorders

An Overview
1 in 10 Canadians will experience a major depressive
episode in their lifetimes
Chances are you know someone who has suffered, or
who is currently suffering from some type of depressive
disorder
Approximately 1 in 2 people affected by a depressive or
anxiety disorder never seek treatment
Pervasive stigmas surrounding mood disorders, and
mental health in general, are to blame

History of Treatment and

Perception
Writings on depressive disorders can be traced back to
Mesopotamia
During Antiquity and the Middle Ages, mood disorders
are thought to be caused by angry gods
In 15th Century Spain the first sanatorium is erected
In the 18th and 19th Centuries, the plight of the mentally
ill is brought to social forum
In early 20th C. Psychoanalysis and the National Mental
Health Association are born

Types of Depressive Disorders

Depressive disorders, though all sharing vague similarities, vary greatly
from one to another
Some of the more well-known depressive or mood disorders are:
o

Major Depression (Clinical Depression)

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Postpartum Depression

Dysthymia

Psychotic Depression

Substance-Induced Mood Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Cyclothymia

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Situational Depression

Atypical Depression

Causes
Disorders can be caused by a variety of factors, i.e.
environmental, genetic, personality, biological
One neurotransmitter, serotonin, is responsible for
regulating appetite, mood, sex-drive, memory,
comprehension, and sleep
The other, norepinephrine, aids concentration; some
experts theorize that low amounts also have links to
mood disorders

In Order to be Diagnosed
Symptoms must be present nearly every day for up to
two weeks
Symptoms must be more severe than they were before
the episode
Symptoms, i.e. significant distress, despair, dejection,
inadequacy, guilt, must affect the individuals ability to
function in society

Major Depression
Major Depression is a disorder defined by a consistent
feeling of emptiness, low self-esteem, and despair

Physical Symptoms of Major

Depression
Despite public perception, the majority of symptoms
manifest themselves physically, or have a physical
impact on the body; some of these include:
o

Physical pain in the joints, in the stomach, headaches,

migraines

Insomnia or hypersomnia

A constant fatigue

A decreased sex-drive

Difficulty with concentration or recall

Significant weight gain/weight loss

Emotional Symptoms of Major

Depression
Constant self-loathing, pessimism, and suicidal thoughts
are all characteristics of this disorder, some others are:
o
o
o
o

Constant sadness
Unwarranted guilt
A prolonged disinterest in favorite hobbies, activities, art
forms
A decreased appetite

Dysthymia
Dysthymia is a depressive disorder that is milder, yet far longer
lasting than Major Depression
Patients with Dysthymia experience very little joy in their lives
Dysthymia affects approximately 6% of people, and is two to
three times more frequent among women
Some symptoms may include:
o

Feelings of inadequacy and failure

Irritability

Sluggishness

Insomnia or difficulty sleeping

Unwarranted guilt

Psychotic Depression
Psychotic Depression, or Depressive Psychosis, is a form of
Major Depression that is often accompanied by psychotic
symptoms or tendencies
Mortality rates among patients is significantly higher than
other depressive disorders
Around 20% of those already diagnosed with Major Depression
experience psychotic symptoms or episodes
Symptoms, along with unipolar symptoms, may include:
o

Delusions

Hallucinations

Paranoia

Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Depression is a disorder that can affect both
mothers and fathers, and is linked to the recent birth of a child
It may start during pregnancy and has the potential to last up
to a year afterwards
Symptoms may include:
o

Feelings of inferiority

Excessive crying

Withdrawing from relationships

Insomnia or hypersomnia

Debilitating fatigue

Chronically depressed mood or severe mood swings

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD), occurs when the patient experiences depressive
episodes during specific months or seasons
All or most of the symptoms associated with Major
Depression are present in a SAD episode
In order to be diagnosed
o
o
o

The symptoms must be unrelated to annual external

sources of stress, i.e. exams, unemployment, etc.
The cycles are regular
The cycles have been present for at least two years prior

Modern Treatment
In the past century-and-a-half, treatment for the
mentally ill has improved significantly
Asylums and sanatoriums are no longer; lobotomy is now
seen as a cruel relic of the past
Prescription medication and talk therapy are now the
most commonly used treatments
This sophistication has led to some new practices, like
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, while older
techniques, like ECT, still continue to be used

Modern Treatment ECT

ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) was first used in 1938
Used now as a last resort, in this procedure seizures are
induced electrically to give relief to the patient
It is used to treat severe cases of bipolar disorder,
unipolar disorder, and catatonia
Due to poor public perception, use has significantly
declined since the 1960s

Modern Treatment Talk Therapy

Often used together today, prescription medication and
talk therapy are the first methods of treatment that
come to mind
Talk Therapy, or Talking Cure, began in the early 20th
Century
It was pioneered by Austrian physician Josef Breuer, and
was later popularized by his protg, Sigmund Freud
It is based on the idea of catharsis, that once the
patient expresses and recognizes their trauma, they feel
relief

Modern Treatment Medication

The wide use of medication in treatment didnt begin until the 1950s
Seen as radical at first, chemists believed that treatments like Talking
Cure didnt provide real relief
These were the first individuals to posit the idea of mental illness
being a chemical concern
The goal was to provide comfort and care, and to eliminate the need
for institutionalization
Lithium was starting to be used to treat severe cases of Bipolar
Disorder
Today we have a vast library of medications for depressive disorders:
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

Modern Treatment
Some other examples of modern treatments include:
o
o
o
o

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

Service animals
Prescribed exercise
Light Therapy

Local Treatment Options

There are many treatment options in the local area for
persons suffering from various depressive disorders;
here are some of the centers:
o

o
o

Lakeridge Health Mental Health Services Their crisis team

and outpatient services are located at 1 Hospital Crt. in
Oshawa
Centre for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Located at 95
Bayly St. W in Ajax
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences Located
in Whitby at 700 Gordon St. with other services available
throughout the GTA

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Works Cited
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