DEPRESSIONtypes of depression, each of which vary in the
number of symptoms, their severity, and persist-
ence. The prevalence of depression is surprisingly
high. Between 5 and 12 percent of men and 10 to
20 percent of women in the United States will
suffer from a major depressive episode at some
time in their lives. Approximately half of these
individuals will become depressed more than once,
and up to 10 percent will experience manic phases
where they are elated and excited, in addition to
depressive ones; an illness known as ‘‘manic-de-
pressive’’ or bipolar disorder. Depression can in-
volve the body, mood, thoughts, and many aspects
of life. It affects the way people eat and sleep, the
way they feel about themselves, and the way they
think about things. Without treatment, symptoms
can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate
treatment, however, can help most people who
suffer from depression.
TYPES OF DEPRESSIONDepression can be experienced for either a short
period of time or can extend for years. It can range
from causing only minor discomfort, to complete-
ly mentally and physically crippling the individual.
The former case of short-term, mild depression is
what is most commonly referred to as ‘‘the blues’’
or when people report ‘‘feeling low.’’ It is techni-
cally referred to as dysphoric mood. Feelings of
depression tend to occur in almost all individuals
at some point in their lives, and dsyphoric mood
has been associated with many key life events
varying from minor to major life transitions (e.g.,
graduation, pregnancy, the death of a loved one).
The feelings of separation and loss associated with
leaving a town one has grown up in, moving to a
new city for a job or school, or even leaving a work
environment that one has grown accustomed to,
can cause bouts of depression signaled by a loss of
motivation and energy, and sadness. Other com-
mon features of dysphoric mood, include sighing,
an empty feeling in the stomach, and muscular
weakness, are also associated with changes such as
the breakup of a dating relationship, divorce, or
separation. In the case of bereavement, most survi-
vors experience a dysphoric mood that is usually
called grief (although some studies have shown
that these feelings may be distinct from depression).
Many of these feelings are seen as represent-
ing the body’s short-term response to stress. Other
kinds of stressful events like losing a job; being
rejected by a lover; being unable to pay the rent or
having high debts; or losing everything in a fire,
earthquake, or flood; may also bring on feelings of
depression. Most of these feelings based on tem-
porary situations are perfectly normal and tend to
fade away.A more severe type of depression than dysphoric
mood, dysthymia (from the Greek word for defec-
tive or diseased mood), involves long-term, chron-
ic symptoms that do not disable, but keep those
individuals from functioning at their best or from
feeling good. People with dysthymia tend to be
depressed most of the day, more days than not,
based on their own description or the description
of others. Dysthymics have a least two of the
following symptoms: eating problems, sleeping
problems, tiredness and concentration problems,
low opinions of themselves, and feelings of hope-
lessness. Unlike major depression, dysthymics can
be of any age. Often people with dysthymia also
experience major depressive episodes.If ‘‘the blues’’ persist, it is more indicative of
major depression, also referred to as clinical depres-
sion or a depressive disorder. Major depression is
manifested by a combination of symptoms that
interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and
enjoy once-pleasurable activities. These disabling
episodes of depression can occur once, twice, or
several times in a lifetime. Clinical practitioners
(both clinical psychologists and psychiatrists) make
use of a multiple-component classification system
designed to summarize the diverse information
relevant to an individual case rather than to just
provide a single label. Using a specified set of
criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (referred to as DSM-IV, American
Psychiatric Association 1994), a diagnosis of de-
pressive disorder includes symptoms such as dis-
satisfaction and anxiety; changes in appetite, sleep,
and psychological and motor functions; loss of
interest and energy; feelings of guilt; thoughts of
death; and diminished concentration. It is impor-
tant to keep in mind that many of these symptoms
are also reported by individuals who are not diag-
nosed with clinical depression. Only having many
of these symptoms at any one time qualifies as
depression. An individual is said to be experienc-
ing a ‘‘major depressive episode’’ if he or she
experiences a depressed mood or a loss of interest