Major Depressive Disorder

A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

Possible causes include a combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress. Increasingly, research suggests these factors may cause changes in brain function, including altered activity of certain neural circuits in the brain.

The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterizes major depression can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms. These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, or self-esteem. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide.

The mainstay of treatment is usually medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. Increasingly, research suggests these treatments may normalize brain changes associated with depression.

Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: PW115
Diagnosis: Major Depressive Disorder
US Patients:
World Patients: 163 Mil; 2% of world population
Sex Ratio: M;W2
Age Onset: 20s-30s; The average duration is 23 weeks, with three more during lifetime. ½ of patients will not have another episode.
Brain Area: 102 variations in the genome linked to depression; There is an extensive description of possible brain affects on depression.
Symptoms: Has at least two weeks of depressive mood; inability to enjoy pleasure; rumination; reduced sex drive, insomnia and hypersomnia
Progression: weight and appetite may be low; fatigue, social withdrawal, suicidal thoughts; delusions or sometimes hallucinations
Causes: 40%-hereditary; response to stressors, childhood abuse. The article claims general physicians miss 2/3 of depression diagnoses.
Medications: Antidepressants-for the deeply depressed; electroconvulsive therapy
Therapies: Counseling; transcranial magnetic stimulation, light therapy, exercise, light therapy,

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Section 12.04.

4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED

The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis

Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.

The prevalence of major depressive disorder in people with HIV: Results from the All of Us Research Program
by Joshua J Matacotta on May 8, 2024
CONCLUSION: Among AoU participants, Black individuals have a disproportionately high burden of HIV, pointing to underlying factors such as social determinants of health, limited access to healthcare or prevention resources, and potential systemic biases that contribute to these differences. In addition, HIV is a risk factor for mental health issues like MDD. Further data collection from people with HIV will elucidate contributing factors and the need for interventions.
Negative affect instability predicts elevated depressive and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms even when negative affect intensity is controlled for: an ecological momentary assessment study
by Hedvig Sultson on May 8, 2024
INTRODUCTION: Mood and anxiety disorders are characterized by abnormal levels of positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA) and changes in how emotions unfold over time. To better prevent and treat those disorders, it is crucial to determine which kind of indices of emotion dynamics best predict elevated depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms.
Antidepressant exposure and long-term dementia risk in a nationwide retrospective study on US veterans with midlife major depressive disorder
by Jaime Ramos-Cejudo on May 8, 2024
INTRODUCTION: The use of antidepressants in major depressive disorder (MDD) has been reported to influence long-term risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (AD/ADRD), but studies are conflicting.
Stress Exposure and PTSD in a Cross-Sectional Residential Substance Use Treatment Sample
by Rebecca L Schacht on May 8, 2024
CONCLUSIONS: Stressful event exposure among people in residential SUD treatment is very high. Those who are younger or LGB+ in residential SUD treatment may be at greater risk of developing PTSD. DSM-congruent stressors are more consistently associated with mental health indicators than are DSM-incongruent stressors. Prioritizing treatment targets and identifying implementable treatment strategies can be challenging with this complex population.