Sadness that is unduly persistent, pervasive, or inappropriate to one's life circumstances is generally considered pathological. A depression syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that occur together, even though they may have different causes. These symptoms include loss of energy, appetite and sleep difficulties, difficulty in thinking, and feelings of worthlessness and guilt. This is clinical depression and requires medical attention. The causes of depression are still not quite clear, despite extensive research.
Depression is the most common psychological disorder.
Women are at least twice as likely as men to suffer a major bout of depression during their lifetime. You are experiencing moods that are extreme, recurrent, difficult to shake , or patterns of behavior that are destructive, restrictive, and recurrent. Some of these moods might include depression, fear, guilt, anxiety, confusion, and thoughts of suicide. If several of these symptoms persist, you could be experiencing major depression and should consider an evaluation by a trained therapist. With appropriate treatment, most people can be relatively free of symptoms within four to six months.