Depression is a psychiatric disorder and is classified as a mood disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is the standard classification system used by mental health professionals.
The official term for clinical depression is major depressive disorder (MDD).
Why is depression a psychiatric disorder?
- Affects brain function
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- Depression is associated with imbalances in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate mood, motivation, and emotions.
That’s very true because I had no motivation to do anything, felt sad all the time, and experienced no pleasure from previously enjoyable activities such as lifting weights.
- Defined symptoms
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- Depression meets clear diagnostic criteria, including persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts, lasting at least two weeks or longer.
- Impairment in daily life
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- It considerably disrupts normal functioning in areas such as work, relationships, and personal well-being.
- Biological and psychological causes
- Effective medical treatment
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- Since it has biological underpinnings, depression is often treated with antidepressant medications (SSRIs, SNRIs, etc.), psychotherapy (CBT, interpersonal therapy), or both.
I took antidepressants and went to a psychologist, which I must admit helped ease my symptoms and allowed me to function somewhat normally in life once again.
- Heritability and genetic links
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- Studies show that depression runs in families, with 40-50% heritability in cases of severe depression.
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- Specific genes related to serotonin regulation (such as SLC6A4) have been linked to increased depression risk.
- Structural and functional brain changes
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- Brain imaging studies reveal reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation.
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- The amygdala is involved in processing emotions and frequently shows increased activity, leading to heightened negative emotions.
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- The hippocampus (linked to memory and stress regulation) tends to be smaller in people with depression.
- Chronic stress and HPA axis dysfunction
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- The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis controls stress responses and is regularly overactive in many depressed individuals.
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- This leads to higher cortisol levels, contributing to symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, and sleep issues.
- Comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders
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- Depression frequently coexists with other psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia.
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- This suggests a common neurological or genetic basis for these conditions.
Although I’ve always been a bit anxious, I became a lot more nervous when my mood issues were at their worst.
- Global recognition by health authorities
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- Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) classify depression as a mental disorder based on scientific research and clinical evidence.
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- The WHO ranks it as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.
- Response to psychiatric treatment
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- Unlike temporary sadness, clinical depression typically requires medical or therapeutic intervention.
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- Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs), psychotherapy (CBT, DBT, IPT), and even electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are helpful for many patients.
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- These treatments wouldn’t work if it were merely an emotional state.
Antidepressants tend to work for me in the first months, but the effects seem to subside somewhat eventually.
- Evolutionary and developmental aspects
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- Some theories suggest that depression evolved as a biological response to stress, loss, or trauma, helping individuals to withdraw and conserve energy.
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- Childhood trauma and early life adversity are known risk factors that can impact brain development and emotional regulation.
Final note
Depression is classified as a psychiatric disorder because it involves biological, neurological, genetic, and psychological factors that disrupt normal brain function and emotional regulation.
It is not just temporary sadness but a clinically recognized condition with defined symptoms, clear diagnostic criteria, and a major impact on daily life.
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