What is depression?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on October 27, 2024
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Depression, clinically referred to as depressive disorder, is a type of mood disorder. Its primary manifestations are persistent and significant low mood, reduced volition, and slow thinking. It is accompanied by sleep disturbances, eating disorders, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt and self-blame. Patients do not feel pleasure or interest, sometimes feel excessively guilty, and even find life meaningless, leading to thoughts and behaviors of suicide. In severe cases, depression may also present with psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. If these symptoms occur daily, are present most of the time, and persist for more than two weeks, significantly affecting work, study, daily life, social interactions, and family functions, then it can be diagnosed as depression. This describes the relevant clinical aspects of depression.

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Can postpartum depression breastfeed?

When postpartum depression occurs, it is possible to continue breastfeeding. If the depression is mild and no medication is taken, continuing breastfeeding will not affect the baby's growth and development. However, depression often leads to low spirits, frequent crying, and a reluctance to care for the child, which can affect milk secretion and lead to a reduction in milk supply that may not meet the baby's growth needs. In such cases, it may be necessary to add supplementary food or formula. If postpartum depression is severe and involves medication, these medications may enter the baby's body through the breast milk, which can affect the baby's health. Therefore, if postpartum depression occurs and medication is taken, breastfeeding should be stopped. (Note: The answer is for reference only. Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional physician, and blind medication should be avoided.)

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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How is depression diagnosed?

The diagnosis of depression in clinical settings involves four aspects: First, the collection of medical history, which includes understanding the onset, progression, treatment, and outcome of the illness, as well as past treatment experiences, etc. Second, psychiatric assessment, involving examinations with the patient concerning their sensations, perceptions, consciousness, thinking, emotions, intelligence, memory, self-control, willpower, and other aspects. Third, the use of scales to measure depression, which includes self-rating scales or observer-rating scales for depression to assess the severity of the patient's condition. Fourth, through related auxiliary examinations, excluding physical illnesses that may cause symptoms of depression. Ultimately, the diagnosis of depression is determined by integrating information from these four areas.

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Symptoms of depression

Patients with symptoms of depression often experience a persistent low mood throughout most of the day, along with a loss or decrease in interests and pleasure. They commonly experience fatigue, an increase in feelings of exhaustion, and more. Additionally, these patients may have poor concentration, low self-esteem, decreased self-confidence, a sense of worthlessness, self-blame, and a bleak outlook on life with no perceived future, including suicidal thoughts. There are also significant changes in their sleeping and eating habits. Therefore, if these symptoms persist for more than two weeks and adversely impact the patient’s work, studies, lifestyle, or social abilities, it should be considered indicative of depression. Thus, once diagnosed, systematic and standardized treatment should be administered to prevent the worsening of the condition.

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Psychiatry and Psychology
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How long does it take for depression to get better?

The treatment of depression is generally divided into three stages: acute phase treatment, continuation phase treatment, and maintenance phase treatment. The complete recovery from depression depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. The acute phase treatment usually lasts one to three months, mainly focusing on controlling the symptoms related to depression. Additionally, during the continuation phase treatment, the medication period generally lasts four to nine months, and its main goal is to maintain the stability of the patient's condition and prevent relapse of the disease. As for the maintenance phase treatment, the duration of treatment is to be determined. Typically, the duration is one to two years after the first onset, three to five years after the second onset, and for patients who have had more than three episodes, it is recommended to maintain a low-dose medication treatment to prevent recurrence of the disease.

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Causes of Postpartum Depression

The main reasons for postpartum depression occur because, after childbirth, there is a sharp change in hormone levels in women, which often leads to the development of postpartum depression. Additionally, aside from hormonal changes, there are also psychological changes in women after childbirth. Women may struggle with poor adaptation postpartum, as well as a lack of clear role identification and acceptance, leading to contradictory emotions that they find difficult to manage under normal stress. This situation is prone to lead to depression. Moreover, women tend to be physically weaker after childbirth, experiencing fatigue and physical discomfort, which can also affect their emotional state. Furthermore, the lack of care from family members or the husband can make it more likely for postpartum depression to occur.