Major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder[9] characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Introduced by a group of US clinicians in the mid-1970s,[10] the term was adopted by the American Psychiatric Association for this symptom cluster under mood disorders in the 1980 version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), and has become widely used since.

Quick facts: Major depressive disorder, Other names, Speci... ▼

Major depressive disorder
Other names	Clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, recurrent depression
Sorrowing Old Man (At Eternity's Gate) by Vincent van Gogh (1890)
Specialty	Psychiatry, clinical psychology
Symptoms	Low mood, low self-esteem, loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, low energy, pain without a clear cause[1]
Complications	Self-harm, suicide[2]
Usual onset	Age 20s[3][4]
Duration	> 2 weeks[1]
Causes	Environmental (adverse life experiences, stressful life events), genetic and psychological factors[5]
Risk factors	Family history, major life changes, certain medications, chronic health problems, substance use disorder[1][5]
Differential diagnosis	Bipolar disorder, ADHD, sadness[6]
Treatment	Psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, exercise[1][7]
Medication	Antidepressants
Frequency	163 million (2017)[8]

The diagnosis of major depressive disorder is based on the person's reported experiences, behavior reported by relatives or friends, and a mental status examination.[11] There is no laboratory test for the disorder, but testing may be done to rule out physical conditions that can cause similar symptoms.[11] The most common time of onset is in a person's 20s,[3][4] with females affected about twice as often as males.[4] The course of the disorder varies widely, from one episode lasting months to a lifelong disorder with recurrent major depressive episodes.

Those with major depressive disorder are typically treated with psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.[1] Medication appears to be effective, but the effect may be significant only in the most severely depressed.[12][13] Hospitalization (which may be involuntary) may be necessary in cases with associated self-neglect or a significant risk of harm to self or others. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be considered if other measures are not effective.[1]

Major depressive disorder is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors,[1] with about 40% of the risk being genetic.[5] Risk factors include a family history of the condition, major life changes, certain medications, chronic health problems, and substance use disorders.[1][5] It can negatively affect a person's personal life, work life, or education, and cause issues with a person's sleeping habits, eating habits, and general health.[1][5] Major depressive disorder affected approximately 163 million people (2% of the world's population) in 2017.[8] The percentage of people who are affected at one point in their life varies from 7% in Japan to 21% in France.[4] Lifetime rates are higher in the developed world (15%) compared to the developing world (11%).[4] The disorder causes the second-most years lived with disability, after lower back pain.[14]