Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Major Depression, or more commonly known as Clinical Depression is a mood disorder in which the patient experiences constant feelings of sadness, loss, worthlessness, anger or frustration, and despair. Other symptoms associated with Major Depression are fatigue, poor concentration, loss or increase in appetite, weight gain or loss, suicidal thoughts, disturbed sleep pattern, hypersomnia, and consternation.
Most people may feel down, blue, or sad at some point in their life and the feeling might last a couple of days up to a week. Sometime called the blues, these sad feelings will cease after a short period of time, and life is expected to continue. Due to this expectation, many people suffering from MDD
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It has even put famous people in the spotlight due to their experience with MDD, such as singer, songwriter Kurt Cobain. He was the lead singer of the rock band, Nirvana, and suffered from a Major Depressive Episode that led him to commit suicide. There are films featuring Major Depressive Disorder as the underlying theme, movies such as Prozac Nation (based on the life of Elizabeth Wurtzel, writer, who struggled with MDD in college), Revolutionary Road (based on the novel by Richard Yates who created characters reflecting aspects, moments, experiences of his life), Helen (written by Sandra Nettelbeck whose childhood friend committed suicide), and Sylvia (based of the life of poet, Sylvia Plath, whose life ended in suicide from MDD). Some TV shows that come to mind are The Sopranos and Mad Men. In The Sopranos, the main character, Tony Soprano is diagnosed with Major Depression. In Mad Men, the wife of the main character, Don Draper, experiences a Major Depressive Episode caused by triggers surrounding his indiscretions.
The exact causes of MDD are unknown. It is believed that chemical imbalances in the brain are responsible. This may be due by a problem with the genes; it can be triggered by stressful or tragic event or most likely a combination of both. Major Depression may also be brought on by some medical conditions such as an underactive thyroid, cancer, or long-term pain. It could also be trigged by substance abuse, certain medications such as steroids, sleeping problems, stressful life events such as the loss or illness of a loved one, child abuse, divorce, neglect,