Classifying depression as reactive is of limited use, actually. Reactive depression is the name given to an episode of major depression which occurs after a specific life event.
Reactive depression is common.
It occurs in as many as 44 percent of all diagnosed depressions. Psychotherapy can help identify the trigger in reactive depression and, in severe cases, antidepressants can be used at the same time to make the person feel better. Treatment of depression, whether reactive or endogenous, should not be delayed until the trigger of the attack is identified. It's all right to ask your doctor to treat the episodes, even if the trigger is unknown. The relationship between a trigger and the illness is complicated.