Major Depressive Disorder ( Mdd ) - 1428 Words

Major Depressive Disorder is defined as a â€Å"moderate-to-severe mood disorder in which a person experiences only major depressive episodes but no hypomanic, manic, or mixed episodes† (Butcher, Hooley, Mineka, 2014, p. 618). Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is also referred to Major Depression. MDD is also â€Å"characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. Major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally. Some people may experience only a single episode within their lifetime, but more often a person may have multiple episodes† (National Instittute of Mental Health, 2014, p. 2) Forms of Major Depressive Disorder†¦show more content†¦Postpartum depression is described as â€Å"more serious than the ‘baby blues’ that many women experience after giving birth, when hormonal and physical changes and the new responsibility of caring for a newborn can be overwhelming. It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of women experience postpartum depression after giving birth (National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2014). Finally yet importantly, is Seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD. SAD is â€Å"characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. The depression generally lifts during spring and summer. SAD may be effectively treated with light therapy, but nearly half of those with SAD do not get better with light therapy alone. Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy can reduce SAD symptoms, either alone or in combination with light therapy† (National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2014). There are more forms of depression but the one that will be focused on is Major Depressive Disorder. Causes of MDD Major Depressive Disorder is typically â€Å"caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors† (National Instittute of Mental Health, 2014, p. 6). The genetic factor of MDD has â€Å"shown that the prevalence of mood disorders is approximately two to three times higher among blood