Recurrent Depressive Disorder

Recurrent Depressive Disorder

Recurrent Depressive Disorder, also known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is a mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness. Symptoms include loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. The severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe and can impact daily functioning. Treatment options include psychotherapy and medications. If left untreated, it can lead to an increased risk of developing other mental health disorders, impaired social and occupational functioning, and a higher risk of suicide.

Symptoms:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Sleep disturbances
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Severity

• Can range from mild to severe, impacting daily functioning

Treatment options:

• Pharmacotherapy
• Counselling

Duration of treatment:

• Varies depending on age of onset, duration of illness, severity of symptoms, treatment response, family history of illness and presence of complications.

Complications if untreated:

• Impaired social and occupational functioning
• Increasing frequency, increasing duration and increasing severity of illness with each successive episode
• Higher risk of suicide
• Increased risk of developing other mental health disorders