Major depression is a medical condition distinguished by one or more major depressive episodes. A major depressive episode is characterized by at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest (pleasure)and accompanied by at least more symptoms of depression.
Such symptoms can include changes in appetite, weight, difficulty in thinking and concentrating and recurrent thought of death or suicide.
An episode can occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often, a person has several episodes.
Major depressive disorder pathology has been associated with brain monoamine neurotransmitter or receptor abnormalities. Studies of cerebrospinal fluid chemistry, neuroreceptor, and transporter systems, as well as clinical response to monoaminergic agents, have suggested that serotonergic, noradrenergic, other neurotransmitter, and neuropeptide systems may be abnormal in major depressive disorder.
Major depressive disorder is frequently associated with comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions and carries with it a high risk of morbidity and mortality.
Major depressive disorder
