Depression
Depression, a common yet serious mood disorder, affects daily life and overall well-being. In India, misconceptions often lead to underdiagnosis and a lack of care, despite evidence linking depression to measurable changes in brain structure and function. Addressing this requires awareness, education, and culturally competent treatment.
Major Depression: A mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities. It often affects a person's daily functioning and quality of life. Number one most common form of depression worldwide with over 21.0 million (8.3%) of adults in the United States that had at least one major depressive episode in 2021.
Research shows that depression can affect the brain, reducing the size or activity of areas like the amygdala and hippocampus, which are crucial for emotions and memory. These changes help explain why depression impacts mood and daily functioning.
Whether you live with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, you experience periods of depression. This can make it hard to tell them apart. But the bi- in bipolar means “two” because it has two phases: mania and depression. Major depressive disorder only has one phase: depression.
Common but serious mood disorder. Results in a low mood and loss of pleasure in activities that were previously interesting to the individual.
