Major depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a mood disorder that negatively affects how a person feels, thinks, acts, and copes with everyday activities. It can cause a significant decrease in a person’s ability to enjoy life.
Sadness and grief share some characteristics with depression, but they are not the same as depression.
Major depression symptoms may include:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Irritability
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Moving or talking more slowly
- Restlessness or difficulty sitting still
- Changes in appetite and/or weight
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
- If you or someone you know are in crisis, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to anyone. All calls are confidential.
What Causes Major Depression?
Major depression usually does not have a single cause. Clinical depression is an imbalance in brain chemistry, but what causes this to occur is usually a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Risk factors for developing major depression include:
- Genetics
- Depression often runs in families
- Personality type
- People who are pessimistic, easily overwhelmed, tend to worry a lot, are perfectionists, are very sensitive to personal criticism, or have low self-esteem
- Environmental factors
- Exposure to neglect, violence, poverty, or other trauma
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Brain changes
- Differences in neurotransmitters or hormones, and activity in parts of the brain
- Certain serious physical illnesses
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Sleep disturbances
- Lifestyle factors
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Lack of exercise and proper nutrition
- Major life changes
- Poor sleep habits
- Relationship problems
- Working too much
- Certain medications
What Is the Treatment for Major Depression?
Even severe cases of major depression can be treated, though it can take time, and trial and error to find the right treatment for each patient.
Treatments for major depression include:
- Medications
- Antidepressants
- Mood stabilizers
- Antipsychotic medications
- Psychotherapies
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Problem-solving therapy
- Brain stimulation therapies
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
- Light therapy
- Uses a light box to expose a person to full spectrum light to regulate the hormone melatonin
- Alternative approaches
- Acupuncture
- Meditation
- Nutrition
From 
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https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-cube/202004/four-types-depression
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
https://pulsetms.com/depression-issues/depression-and-environment/