What Are the Different Types of Depression?

How Many Types of Depression Are There?

There are many forms of depression. Your depression type can lead to a different depression symptom, and some symptoms may even overlap or seem similar to others. It’s important to understand the various types of depression and the symptoms that are common to each if you think you may be depressed. 

8 Most Common Types of Depression

Though depression can come in many forms, the following are some of the most commonly experienced types.

Major depressive disorder (MDD)

Sometimes referred to as clinical depression, major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder where those affected typically have depressive symptoms almost all day, virtually every day. It’s important to note that just like a mental health condition, MDD is not situational. Even if you have a very full life with loving relationships and a great career you can be diagnosed with MDD.

So, what does depression feel like? A typical depression symptom can occur for several weeks or even months. Sometimes MDD is one single episode, and other times it’s something people deal with for years or their entire life.

Major depressive disorder symptoms may include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Sleeping excessively
• Consistent and overwhelming worry or anxiety
• Loss of appetite
• Overeating
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling unable to make decisions
• Feeling despondent
• New or unexplained pain
• Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Feeling worthless
• Thoughts of self-harm
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) was once commonly known as dysthymic disorder. This chronic depression lasts for two years or more. It typically won’t feel quite as debilitating as major depressive disorder, but it can still have a major impact on your life, relationships, and daily function. The severity of PDD can range from mild, to moderate, to severe depression.

Even with brief reprieves of symptoms (usually two months or less), symptoms typically return and can be quite disruptive. Because PDD symptoms can occur for such a long period, it’s not unusual for those with it to start feeling like they’re having regular behavior and thought patterns.

Symptoms of PDD or dysthymic disorder can include:

• Low mood
• Feeling angry
• Feeling irritable
• Feeling hopeless
• Feelings of guilt
• Having low self-esteem
• Having a loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Excessive sleeping
• Having a hard time falling or staying asleep
• General fatigue
• Lack of energy or motivation
• Change in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Withdrawing from social activities

Bipolar disorder (previously referred to as manic depression)

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that results in large mood swings. Those with this bipolar depression will experience periods of mania (extreme highs) that often alternate with depressive periods (extreme lows).

There is an increased risk of suicide with bipolar disorder, and those who have the most severe form may experience delusions and hallucinations. Symptoms may differ, depending on if someone is having a manic or depressive episode.

Symptoms of a bipolar manic episode can include:

• Unusually high levels of energy
• Increased irritability
• Feeling a lack of need for sleep
• Grandiose thinking
• Inflated sense of self-importance
• Racing thoughts
• Fast speech
• Increased risky behavior, including with multiple sexual partners and activity
• Self-destructive behavior
• Feelings of euphoria

Symptoms of a bipolar depressive episode can include:

• Unusually low mood levels
• Feeling empty
• Sleeping too much
• Feeling fatigued or a lack of energy
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Suicidal thoughts

Postpartum depression (PPD)

It’s clinically referred to as major depressive disorder with peripartum onset, and PPD is experienced in the weeks before and up to months after giving birth. It’s known as perinatal depression when the symptoms occur during pregnancy, and postpartum when they occur after birth. While it’s largely women who have PPD, some men also become depressed during this time.

Symptoms of PPD can include:

• Anxiety
• Sadness
• Exhaustion
• Anger
• Rage
• Difficulty bonding with the baby
• Severe mood swings
• Feeling inadequate
• Appetite changes
• Excessive worry about the baby’s health
• Having a difficult time caring for yourself
• Having a difficult time caring for the new baby
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Thoughts of harming the baby

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is an extreme and severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMDD tends to have more psychological symptoms, whereas PMS on its own can have both psychological as well as physical symptoms. With PMDD, the psychological symptoms are more extreme, however. High emotions (similar to what you may experience with PMS) may present as a more intense sadness or depression that actually hinders daily functioning when you have PMDD.

PMDD is thought to be caused by hormonal changes (like PMS) but can become so severe that some women experience thoughts of suicide in some cases.

Symptoms of PMDD can include:

• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Cramps and bloating
• Breast tenderness
• Sadness
• Irritability
• Anger
• Binge eating and/or food cravings
• Extreme mood swings
• Panic attacks
• Anxiety
• Sleep issues
• Difficulty focusing
• General lack of energy
• Being overly self-critical
• Thoughts of suicide

Depressive psychosis

Depressive psychosis, or depression with psychosis, occurs when someone with major depression experiences a loss of touch with reality. Delusions and hallucinations are common during depressive episodes. Depressive psychosis is clinically known as a major depressive disorder with psychotic features.

For people who have depressive psychosis, these experiences are very realistic. They’re unable to recognize that what they think or feel is happening is not true or based on reality.

Symptoms of depressive psychosis can include any of the following, with the inclusion of delusions or hallucinations:

• Exhaustion
• Sleep disruption
• Severe change in appetite
• Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt
• Being indecisive
• Difficulty concentrating
• Thoughts of death
• Thoughts of suicide

 

Symptoms of psychosis can include:

 

• Hallucinations involve hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling, or tasting things that aren’t real. For example, thinking someone is there when they aren’t or hearing voices that aren’t really there.
• Delusions are when someone has thoughts or beliefs that are untrue or illogical.
• Sleeping more than normal
• Bouts of insomnia
• Negative body image
• Increasingly being sensitive to rejection
• Difficulty accepting criticism
• Pains or aches
• Excessive eating
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Feeling pressure or weighed down
• Having excessively reactive moods

How To Know What Kind of Depression You Have

Do you wonder if you have any of the forms of depression discussed here? Take our depression test to find out if you may have typical depression symptoms. Keep in mind that depression can have different effects on different people, so if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms we’ve covered and you feel like they’re beginning to interfere with your life, it may be time to get help.

Reaching out to your doctor or a care provider who works with people who have a mental health condition is the first step. They can guide you in the direction of where to seek treatment, whether through in-person or online therapy. Depression treatment is available, and with the right guidance and support, you can learn how to manage depression and return to living a full and productive life.