Major Depressive Disorder: An Overview
The major depressive disorders are generally classified in one of two
classes: unipolar or bipolar. The unipolar disorders are those with
symptoms that include periods of depressed mood, extreme, profound sadness, or
loss of interest in activities that used to interest you. Bipolar depressive
disorders are those that involve periods of depressed mood that alternates with
periods of mania (an elevated mood with increased energy and euphoria). Unipolar
and bipolar both break down into subsets that have specific symptoms and
diagnostic criteria.
The major depressive disorders actually are fairly common medical
conditions.
The unipolar disorders will affect 20% of people some time during their life. Bipolar disorders affect up to 4% of people.Unipolar disorders are twice as common in females than it is in men. On the other hand, bipolar disorders affect the sexes equally. There are multiple causes . . . continue reading about major depressive disorders >>
