Depression (mood)

Depression is a mental state of low mood and aversion to activity.[3] It affects more than 280 million people of all ages (about 3.5% of the global population).[4] Depression affects a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being.[5] Depressed people often experience loss of motivation or interest in, or reduced pleasure or joy from, experiences that would normally bring them pleasure or joy.[6] Depressed mood is a symptom of some mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and dysthymia;[7] it is a normal temporary reaction to life events, such as the loss of a loved one; and it is also a symptom of some physical diseases and a side effect of some drugs and medical treatments. It may feature sadness, difficulty in thinking and concentration and a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping. People experiencing depression may have feelings of dejection or hopelessness and may experience suicidal thoughts. It can either be short term or long term.

Quick facts: Depression, Specialty, Symptoms, Causes, Risk... ▼

Depression
Lithograph of a person diagnosed with melancholia and strong suicidal tendency in 1892
Specialty	Psychiatry, psychology
Symptoms	Low mood, aversion to activity, loss of interest, loss of feeling pleasure
Causes	Brain chemistry, genetics, life events, medical conditions, personality[1]
Risk factors	Stigma of mental health disorder[2]
Diagnostic method	Patient Health Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory
Differential diagnosis	Anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder
Prevention	Social connections, physical activity
Treatment	Psychotherapy, psychopharmacology

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