This pamphlet briefly describes three of the most prevalent types of depressive illnesses. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence. Check with your doctor if you need more information about your type of depressive illness. These disabling episodes of depression can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime. Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom.
Some people experience a few symptoms, some many.
Also, severity of symptoms varies with individuals. Sometimes people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes. Another type of depressive illness is manic depressive illness each year, also called bipolar depression. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive illnesses, manic-depressive illness involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual.