Depression

Depression:

Depression is a term that is used to indicate the presence of sad, empty or irritable mood, accompanied by physical, physiological and cognitive changes that significantly affect the individual's ability to function.

The depressive episode does not coincide with the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (or major depression), because many people can have more or less pronounced mood swings, up to the actual bipolar disorder, of which depression it can only be a symptom, even if it is usually the one most unwelcome to the subject, who asks for help in these phases.

Depression is a widespread disorder and therefore very well known. In fact, it seems that 10% to 15% of the population suffers from it, with a greater frequency among women. Major depression is associated with high mortality. Up to 15% of individuals with severe depression die from suicide.

Nonetheless, most depressed people do not get suicidal thoughts or particularly serious symptoms, but complain of symptoms that often are not even easily associated with depression itself (chronic fatigue, physical ailments, apathy, asthenia, loss of desire, irritability, etc. .).

Depression is twice as common in adolescent and adult females than in adolescent and adult males. In children, boys and girls are equally affected.

 Some have isolated episodes of major depression followed by many years without symptoms, while others have groups of episodes, and still others have more and more frequent episodes with increasing age.