Description

Persistent depressive disorder is a continuous, long-term form of depression. You may feel sad and empty, losing interest in daily activities and have trouble doing things. You can also have a low self-esteem, you feel like a failure and feel hopeless. These feelings last for years and can interfere with your relationships, school, work and daily activities.

If you have major depressive disorder persistent, you may find that it is hard to be upbeat even on happy occasions. You can be described as a gloomy personality, constantly complaining or not able to have fun. Persistent depressive disorder is not as severe as major depression, but its current depressed mood can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Because persistent depressive disorder is a long-term, to deal with the symptoms of depression can be a challenge. A combination of psychotherapy and medication can be effective in the treatment of this condition.

Symptoms

Persistent depressive disorder symptoms tend to come and go over a period of years. The intensity of the symptoms may change over time. But usually, the symptoms do not go away for more than two months. Also, major depression episodes may occur before or during persistent depressive disorder.

The symptoms of major depressive disorder persistent, it can cause big problems in your life and may include:

  • Sadness, emptiness or feeling down.
  • Loss of interest in daily activities.
  • Tiredness and lack of energy.
  • Low self-esteem, self-criticism, or the feeling that you're not able to.
  • Difficulty focusing clearly and difficulty making decisions.
  • The problems of doing things well and on time.
  • Quickly become irritated, impatient, and angry.
  • The avoidance of social activities.
  • The feelings of guilt and worry about the past.
  • Lack of appetite or overeating.
  • Sleep problems.
  • The hopelessness.

In children, the symptoms of the persistence of a depressive disorder may include depressed mood, and being irritable, which means that irritated easily, impatient, and angry.

When to see a doctor

If these feelings have been going on for a long time, you may think that you will always be part of your life. But if you have any of the symptoms of major depressive disorder persistent, seek medical help.

Talk with your health care provider about their symptoms or seek help from a mental health professional. Or you can reach someone who may be able to help guide treatment. This could be a friend or a loved one, a teacher, a religious leader, or other trusted person.

If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or the local emergency number immediately. Or in contact with a direct line of suicide. In the united states, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat . The services are free and confidential. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the united states has a Spanish language of the phone line in 888-628-9454 (toll-free).

Causes

The exact cause of the persistence of a depressive disorder is not known. As with major depression, it may involve more than one cause, such as:

  • The biological differences. People with major depressive disorder persistent can have physical changes in their brains. It is not clear how these changes affect the disorder, but they may eventually help determine the causes.
  • The chemistry of the brain. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals. The research indicates that changes in neurotransmitters may play an important role in depression and its treatment.
  • Inherited traits. Persistent depressive disorder appears to be more common in people whose blood relatives also have the condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in the cause of the depression.
  • The events of the life. As with major depression, traumatic events, such as the loss of a loved one, financial problems or a high level of stress can trigger depressive disorder persistent in some people.

Risk factors

Persistent depressive disorder often begins early in childhood, adolescence or young adult life — and it continues for a long time. Certain factors appear to increase the risk of developing major depressive disorder persistent, including:

  • Having a first-degree blood relative, like a parent or a sibling with major depressive disorder or other depressive disorders.
  • Traumatic or stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one or a major financial problems.
  • Personality traits that include the negativity, such as low self-esteem, being too dependent or self-critical, or always thinking the worst is going to happen.
  • The history of other mental health disorders, such as a personality disorder.

Complications

Conditions that may be linked with the persistence of a depressive disorder are:

  • Lower quality of life.
  • Major depression, anxiety disorders, and other mood disorders.
  • The misuse of substances.
  • The difficulties of the relationship and family conflicts.
  • School or work problems, and the annoyance of doing things.
  • The pain continues, and general medical illness.
  • Suicidal thoughts or behavior.
  • Personality disorders or other mental health disorders.

Prevention

There is No sure way to prevent persistent depressive disorder. Because it often begins in childhood or during the teenage years, the identification of children at risk of the disease can help to get the treatment early.

Strategies that can help reduce or prevent symptoms include the following:

  • Take steps to control stress, to increase your ability to recover from problems — which is called "resilience" — and increase your self-esteem.
  • Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you get through the rough spells.
  • Get treatment at the first sign of a problem, to help prevent the symptoms from worsening.
  • Consider getting a long-term treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.

Diagnosis

If your doctor thinks you may have persistent depressive disorder, exams and tests may include:

  • Physical exam. Your health care provider may do a physical exam and ask in-depth questions about your health to determine what may be the cause of your depression. In some cases, can be linked to an underlying physical health problem.
  • The laboratory tests. Your healthcare provider may recommend lab tests to rule out other medical conditions that may cause depressive symptoms. For example, you can have a blood test to find out if your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, which is called hypothyroidism.
  • The psychological evaluation. This includes talking about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It may include filling out a questionnaire. This assessment can help determine if you have persistent depressive disorder or other condition that may affect mood, such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or seasonal affective disorder.

For a diagnosis of major depressive disorder persistent, the main indication for an adult is somewhat different from that of a child:

  • For an adult, depressed mood occurs on most days for two or more years.
  • For a child, depressed mood, or irritability occurs on most days for at least a year.

The symptoms caused by the persistence of a depressive disorder can vary from person to person. When persistent depressive disorder begins before age 21, it is called early-onset. If you start at the age of 21 years or more, is called late onset.

Treatment

The two main treatments for persistent depressive disorder are medication and psychotherapy. As recommended by your health care provider depends on factors such as:

  • The severity of the symptoms.
  • Her desire to explore emotional or other issues that affect your life.
  • The previous methods of treatment.
  • Its ability to tolerate the drugs.
  • Other emotional problems you may have.
  • What kind of treatment you prefer.

Psychotherapy can be the first suggested option for children and adolescents with major depressive disorder persistent, but that depends on the person. Sometimes antidepressants are also needed.

Medications

Types of antidepressants used to treat major depressive disorder, persistent, which include:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Ssris)
  • Tricyclic antidepressants (Tcas)
  • The serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (Snris)

Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist about possible side effects.

Finding the right medication

You may have to try several medications or a combination of them before finding one that works. This requires patience. Some medications take several weeks or more to see the full effect. You can also take this time to that of the side-effects to ease as your body adapts.

Do not stop taking an antidepressant without talking to your health care provider. When is the time, your provider can help you slowly and safely decrease your dose. Stopping treatment suddenly or missing several doses may cause withdrawal-like symptoms. And stop a medication suddenly can cause depression to worsen rapidly.

When persistent depressive disorder, you may need to take antidepressants long-term to keep the symptoms under control.

Antidepressants and pregnancy

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, some antidepressants may represent a greater risk to the health of your unborn baby or nursing infant. Talk with your doctor if you become pregnant or are planning to become pregnant.

The FDA warning on antidepressants

Antidepressants are generally safe when taken as directed. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all antidepressants to carry a warning: In some cases, children, teenagers, and young adults under 25 may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants. This may be more of a risk in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. So watch closely for worsening depression or unusual behavior in these times.

If your teen or young adult has thoughts of suicide while taking an antidepressant, immediately contact a doctor or mental health provider or get emergency help. Keep in mind that antidepressants are more likely to reduce suicide risk in the long run by improving mood.

Talk therapy

Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy is a general term for the treatment of depression by talking with a mental health provider about your thoughts, feelings, behavior, relationships, and related issues.

The different types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be effective for the persistence of a depressive disorder. You and your therapist can talk about your goals for therapy, and other issues, such as the duration of treatment.

Psychotherapy can help you to:

  • Adjust to a crisis or other current difficulty.
  • Identify the problems that contribute to their depression and change behaviors that make things worse.
  • Identify the negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones.
  • Find better ways to cope and solve problems.
  • Explore the relationships and experiences, and to develop positive interactions with others.
  • To recover a sense of satisfaction and control in your life and help relieve the symptoms of depression, such as hopelessness and anger.
  • Learn how to set realistic goals for your life.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Persistent depressive disorder in general is not a condition that you can treat on your own. But along with the professional treatment, these self-care measures can help:

  • Stick to your treatment plan. Don't skip therapy sessions or appointments. Even if you feel well, do not stop taking your medicine. Give yourself time to improve little by little.
  • Learn about the persistence of depressive disorder. Education about your condition can empower you and motivate you to follow your treatment plan. Encourage your family to learn about the disorder to help them understand and support.
  • Pay attention to the warning signs. Work with your doctor or therapist to learn what might trigger your symptoms. Make a plan so you know what to do if symptoms worsen or return. Contact your doctor or therapist if you notice any changes in symptoms or how you feel. Consider the possibility that family members or friends to watch for warning signs.
  • Take care of yourself. Eating a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity and getting enough sleep. Consider walking, jogging, swimming, gardening, or other activities that you enjoy. Good sleep is important for physical and mental well-being. If you are having trouble sleeping, ask your doctor what you can do.
  • Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. It may seem like alcohol or drugs lessen depression-related symptoms. But with time, it tends to worsen the depression and make it more difficult to treat. Talk with your doctor or therapist if you need help dealing with the use of alcohol or drugs.

Alternative medicine

Make sure you understand the risks and possible benefits if you decide to use alternative or complementary therapy. To prevent the replacement of conventional medical treatment or talk therapy with alternative medicine. When it comes to depression, alternative treatments are not a substitute for medical care.

For example, the herbal supplement called St. John's wort is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression in the united states, although it is available. You can help improve mild to moderate depression, but the evidence is not conclusive.

St. John's wort can interfere with some medications, including blood-thinning drugs, birth control pills, chemotherapy, HIV / AIDS medications and medications to prevent the rejection of organs after a transplant. Also, avoid taking St. John's wort while you are taking antidepressants, since the combination can cause serious side effects.

The FDA does not monitor supplements

Unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved and monitored by the FDA . You can't always be sure what you're doing and if it is safe. Some herbs and other supplements can interfere with prescription medications or cause dangerous interactions. Talk with your health care provider before taking any supplement.

Coping and support

Persistent depressive disorder makes it difficult to engage in the behavior and activities that can help you feel better. In addition to the treatments recommended by your doctor or therapist, please keep in mind these tips:

  • Focus on your goals. The deal with the persistence of a depressive disorder is an ongoing process. Set reasonable goals for yourself. Stay motivated to keep your goals in mind. But give yourself permission to do less when you are feeling down.
  • Simplify your life. Trim obligations when possible. The structure of their time in the planning of your day. You may find it helps to make a list of daily tasks, the use of sticky notes as reminders or the use of a planner to keep organized.
  • Write in a journal. The journal as part of your treatment can improve the state of mind that allows you to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions.
  • Read reputable self-help books and websites. Ask your doctor or therapist to recommend books or websites.
  • Stay connected. Don't isolate yourself. Try to participate in social activities, and to meet with family or friends on a regular basis. Support groups for people with depression can help you connect with other people facing similar challenges and share experiences.
  • Learn ways to relax and manage stress. Examples include meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and tai chi.
  • Do not make important decisions when you are down. Avoid making decisions when you are depressed, because you can't think clearly.

Preparing for your appointment

You can decide to schedule an appointment with your primary health care provider to talk about your concerns. Or you may decide to see a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist for evaluation.

You can opt to take a family member or a friend to help you to remember something that you missed or forgot.

What you can do

Prepare for your appointment by making a list of:

  • The symptoms that I had, including those that may seem unrelated to the reason for the appointment.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, supplements, or herbal preparations they are taking and the dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care provider.

Basic questions to ask may include:

  • Why can't I get over this depression on my own?
  • How do you treat this type of depression?
  • Going to talk therapy help?
  • There is a medication that could help?
  • How much time should I take the medicine?
  • What are some of the side effects of the medicine that you are recommending?
  • How often will we meet?
  • How long will treatment take?
  • What can I do to help myself?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have?
  • What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you several questions, such as:

  • When did you first notice the symptoms?
  • How is your daily life affected by their symptoms?
  • What other treatments have you had?
  • What have you tried on your own to feel better?
  • What things make you feel worse?
  • Has relatives had some type of depression or another mental health disorder?
  • What to expect from treatment?

Your health care provider or mental health provider will ask more questions based on your responses, symptoms, and needs. Prepare and anticipate the questions to make the most of your appointment time.

Symptoms and treatment of persistent depressive disorder