- Contents
- Introduction
- What is depression?
- What are the different forms of depression?
- What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
- What causes depression?
- Does depression look the same in everyone?
- How is depression treated?
- How can I help a loved one who is depressed?
- How can I help myself if I am depressed?
- Where can I go for help?
- What if I or someone I know is in crisis?
What are the different forms of depression?
There are several forms of depression.
Major depression—severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. An episode can occur only once in a person's lifetime, but more often, a person has several episodes.
Dysthymic disorder, or dysthymia—depressive symptoms that last a long time (2 years or longer) but are less severe than those of major depression.
Minor depression—similar to major depression and dysthymia, but symptoms are less severe and may not last as long.
Previous: What is depression? Next: What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
Related Information
- See all NIMH publications about:
- Browse Mental Health Topics
- About NIMH Publications
