MOOD DISORDERS MENU

Mood Disorders
Depression >>
Bipolar Disorder >>
SAD >>

Mood Disorders

Types of Depression

Depression is different for everyone, including its severity and duration, and it can take several forms:

  • Major or unipolar depression
  • Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, characterized by alternating mood changes with severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). (See more detailed information on next page.)
  • Dysthymia, a less severe form of major depression, involves long-term, chronic symptoms that don’t disable, but keep a person from functioning well or from feeling good
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression related to the season of the year and the duration of daylight
  • Postpartum depression—depression in the perinatal period, pregnancy though 1 year postpartum. The chronicity, rather than severity of maternal depression, has more long-term effects on infants and young children.  For more on postpartum depression and other postpartum disorders click on the link to the left.