What is Clinical Depression?
Overview & Facts ›› Clinical Depression
People of all ages, genders, ethnicities, cultures, and religions can suffer from clinical depression. Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Doctors use the term "clinical depression" to describe the more severe form of depression also known as "major depression" or "major depressive disorder."
Clinical depression is not the same as feeling sad or depressed for a few days and then feeling better. To meet the criteria for clinical depression (called major depression in the DSM), you must have five or more of the above symptoms over a two-week period.
There are different types and levels of clinical depression. Mental health counselors and psychiatrists are trained to diagnose and treat clinical depression. Clinical depression symptoms usually improve with psychological counseling, antidepressant medications or a combination of the two.
Sources and Additional Information:
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.