Depressive Disorders

After Bipolar Disorder, the diagnostic manual continues with Depressive Disorders. The word "depression" is familiar to us, likely due to its prevalence; it's easier to have direct or indirect experiences with someone who has suffered or is suffering from depression. Therefore, I expect that even a reader not versed in the subject has a greater awareness of what Depression is compared to Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia.

What can we learn today? Perhaps the point that might be confusing is the difference between deep sadness and a depressive episode. Often, relational "breakups" or losses such as grief, financial setbacks, or physical conditions (resulting in disability) can have depressive-like symptoms, such as intense sadness, rumination on loss, insomnia, and poor appetite.

However, the characteristic of grief is to focus on the loss, while depression centers mainly on depressed mood and the inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia). Probably a strong differentiator in depression is self-devaluation, a feeling of worthlessness that generally isn't present in grief.

A particular characteristic we will encounter in posts related to some Depressive Disorders is irritability. We will see how the presence of strong irritability can be associated with a depressed mood currently or in the future.

The diagnostic manual (DSM-5) describes four main Depressive Disorders:

- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

Sources:
- American Psychiatric Association (2013) - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
- Bernhill, J. W. (2014) - DSM-5 Clinical Cases.

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