
Depression is a serious mood disorder which causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest thus affecting daily routine activities such as sleeping, walking, talking, thinking, eating etc. depression is different from temporary feeling of sadness. Signs and symptoms of depression includes persistent sadness, irritability, loss of interest in daily routine activities, feelings of worthlessness and pessimism, guilt, social withdrawal, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, headache, cramps, digestive problems, weight changes, restlessness, and suicide attempts however alcoholism and drug abuse may also be the signs of depression. Signs and symptoms of depression vary from person to person depending upon the risk factors and individual thinking and lifestyle. Also there are different forms of depression which has unique character tics such as persistent depressive disorder, perinatal depression disorder, psychotic depression, Seasonal affective disorder and bipolar depression. Depression is also categorised based on its severity as mild, moderate and severe. Psychotic depression, persistent depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are the severe form of depression and should be treated with anti-depressants and psychotherapies. Depression can occur at any age but often initiates in adulthood.