Melancholic
depression (melancholia) is a type of major depressive disorder that is
characterized by melancholic features.
Melancholic depression makes people lose interest in nearly
all activities and has other distinct symptoms.
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| Melancholic Depression (Melancholia) - Depression with Melancholic Features |
What is Melancholic
Depression?
Melancholic depression (Melancholia) is a form of major
depressive disorder that is characterized by depressed mood, abnormal motor
functions, and abnormal vegetative signs.
Melancholic depression causes a significant change in mood,
as it can make a person think about not staying in life and that it has no
value or importance.
This type of depression used to be classified as a separate
disorder, but the American Psychiatric Association (APA) no longer recognizes
it as a separate mental illness, but rather classifies it as a subtype of
clinical depression.
In the DSM-5, melancholic depression (melancholia) is a
specifier for major depressive disorder, so a person with melancholia would be
diagnosed as having MDD with melancholic features.
Major depressive episodes are accompanied by persistent and
intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and changes in mood and behavior.
Depressive episodes can affect many areas of life, including
work, study and social relationships, and a person with depression may feel
that nothing in this life is worth living for or caring for.
Although melancholic depression can be difficult to treat,
recovery is possible. A trained mental health professional can help
people with melancholic depression manage their symptoms.
Related: Depression-Symptoms, Risk Factors and Complications -How to Deal with
Depression and Sadness?
Are there types of
melancholic depression?
Melancholic depression is classified into several forms and
they are:
Depression that makes a person's mood in a very bad state, so
nothing suits him no matter what happens and can be affected by the slightest
reasons that make him very noticeably nervous, and the situation leads them to
extreme violence towards others.
Depressed emotionally, this means that they see themselves as
different from all the people around them, they are more sensitive and it is
not appropriate for them to be with these people.
Depression that leads to obsession, and this obsession is
through frustration and despair, and all negative feelings are gathered inside
the person until they lead to obsession.
Related: Clinical Depression Symptoms and Causes | How to Deal with Major
Depressive Episode
Read Also: Bipolar Disorder - Symptoms, Types, Causes and Complications - How to
Prevent Manic Depression
Symptoms of Melancholic
Depression
Symptoms that may appear on people with melancholic
depression include:
- Persistent feelings of extreme sadness for a long period of time, regardless of the circumstances surrounding them.
- Feeling tired and exhausted.
- Feeling anxious or irritable.
- Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable.
- Loss of pleasure in all or most daily activities.
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, and making decisions.
- Eating too much food in some cases, or too little in others.
- Sleeping too much in some cases, or too little sleep in others.
- Thinking and talking about death or suicide.
- Attempting suicide.
- Lack of interaction with positive news or events.
- Constant feeling of excessive or inappropriate guilt.
- Experiencing changes in body movement
- Weight changes and disturbances.
- Symptoms of MDD that are worse in the morning.
Read Also: Stress, Depression and Anxiety in Students -Symptoms, Causes andTreatment
Causes of melancholic
depression
The exact cause of Melancholic depression isn't entirely clear, but family history, brain chemistry, genetics, past traumas, and hormones may all play a role in Melancholia.
It is believed that the causes of melancholic depression are
mostly biological factors; some may have inherited from their parents.
Sometimes, stressful situations can lead to episodes of melancholic depression, although this is a contributing cause rather than a necessary or sufficient cause.
The elderly, inpatients, and those exhibiting psychotic features are more likely to have melancholic depression.
People who experience psychotic symptoms are also thought to be more prone to this disorder. It is frequent in the elderly and often goes unnoticed by some doctors who see the symptoms as part of dementia.
Melancholic depression, major depressive disorder or otherwise, is a separate condition that can accompany dementia in the elderly.
Read here:
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3. Serotonin Deficiency -Depression, Irritability and Obsession
4. How to Overcome Mood Swings and How to Stabilize Your Mood Naturally?
5. Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Methods: Medication and Psychotherapy