What is depression?

Although depression is a word many of us commonly use to describe everyday sadness, in fact depression is much more than this.

Some healthcare providers use the term "clinical depression" to distinguish this more significant problem from the garden-variety sadness we might otherwise think about.

Depression has various forms and diagnoses. In this section of the site you can learn about the types of depression and the symptoms associated with each.

One caution: The diagnosis of depression is quite difficult, and can be trickier than it looks. This site does not present ALL the details. Feel free to examine these pages to get some hints about your own experience, but leave diagnosis to a healthcare professional.

Click on the topics below for more information.

• Major depression. A problem also known as clinical depression.
• Bipolar disorder. Formerly called manic-depressive disorder, involving depressive lows as well as disturbingly energetic or impulsive "highs."
• Dysthymia. A milder but long-lasting form of depression.
• Post-partum depression. A mood problem that can appear shortly after giving birth.
• Cyclothymia. Essentially a milder form of bipolar disorder.
• Minor depression. A milder form of depression, and not considered a formal disorder.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A seasonal form of depression.

Note: Information on these pages is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be taken as a substitute for care from a qualified healthcare provider.