6. Major Depressive Disorder

Endogenous depression

Cases of depression with no clear negative environmental stimulus

Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder

• Affective symptoms - feelings of guilt or sadness, lack of enjoyment or pleasure in familiar activities or company

• Behavioral symptoms - lack of initiative, passivity

• Cognitive symptoms - frequent negative thoughts, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, irrational hopelessness, difficulties in concentration and decision making

• Somatic - fatigue, insomnia or hypersomnia, weight loss/gain, diminished libido

Comorbidity

When a person suffers from more than one disorder at a time

Explain why diagnoses of MDD is difficult

• Physiological tests to diagnose MDD do not exist

• Diagnoses are based on standardized questionnaires (e.g. BDI) that try to determine the intensity and duration of symptoms, but can be subjective and prone to self-report bias

• Cultural, gender, and age related differences in symptoms

• Depression is often comorbid with other physical and psychological disorders

Dysmthymia

A long-term and persistent form of depression that is not as severe as MDD

Avolition

A decrease in motivation to initiate and perform self-directed purposeful activities