Melancholic depression, also called melancholia, is a type of depression that can have more severe symptoms than other types of depression. It can also be more difficult to treat than other types of depression. However, support from a mental health professional is available.
The word melancholy is an old term for being very sad and hopeless. A depressed person is not active in life and finds it difficult to engage in new activities. As can be inferred from these symptoms and definitions, melancholic depression is a severe form of depression that diminishes a person's strength and has the potential to lead to suicide if left untreated.
What are the Symptoms of Melancholic Depression?
Melancholic depression is more likely to cause physical symptoms, not just feeling sad. The person may lack energy. You may have no energy and movements and thoughts may slow down. Other symptoms of melancholic depression include
- Lack of enjoyment of life
- Reluctance
- Poor quality sleep
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Problems with concentration or memory
- Feeling empty or unresponsive
- Excessive guilt
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts
The behavior of people with melancholic depression may also change. Examples include;
- Changes in speech or speaking at different volume levels or pausing when speaking
- Eye movements such as fixed gaze or lack of eye contact when talking to people
- Slow slow movement
- Hunched posture
- Frequent touching of the face or body
- Body aches
Some studies show that around 70% of people with melancholic depression may also have musculoskeletal pain.
What are the risk factors for melancholic depression?
Symptoms of melancholic depression usually appear later in life. This type of depression tends to run in families. Symptoms of melancholic depression may be worse at times of the year when there is less sunlight, when the days are shorter or when it is cold outside.
People withpostnatal depression or depression immediately after giving birth may also experience melancholic symptoms.
What Causes Melancholic Depression?
Changes in the brain and hormonal pathways can contribute to melancholic depression. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenals may not be working properly. This pathway is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These glands release chemicals that regulate stress and appetite.
In melancholic depression, levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands when under stress, may be high. The HPA axis regulates it. This affects many different functions in the human body, including appetite, metabolism and memory.
There may also be changes in brain signals called neurons. These signals affect how you react to your environment.
How is melancholic depression diagnosed?
The specialist can diagnose depression based on signs and symptoms and by carrying out various tests. For this reason, the Mood Disorders Scale https://cdn.npistanbul.com/duygudurum-bozukluklari-olcegi is a scale designed to measure the severity of depressive symptoms.
One of the two main symptoms of melancholic depression is loss of enjoyment of life or loss of ability to respond to pleasurable activities in life. In addition, having at least three of the following symptoms is important in diagnosing depression;
- Hopelessness that is not caused by grief or loss of a loved one
- Loss of appetite or significant weight loss
- Psychomotor changes
- Depressed mood, worse in the morning than at night
- Strong feelings of guilt
How is Melancholic Depression Treated?
Treatments for melancholic depression may involve a combination of medication and therapy. The mental health professional first assesses the symptoms by listening to the person's history. He or she then conducts examinations to determine the diagnosis. He or she then creates a personalized treatment plan. Some of these treatments include psychotherapy or talk therapy.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy may not always be as helpful in treating melancholic depression as other types of depression. Even after treatment, symptoms may return later, but it is possible to manage depression with the help of mental health professionals. The specialist may prescribe certain antidepressant medications if appropriate. In combination with these, electroconvulsive therapy is another treatment option.
If other treatments do not work, the doctor may recommend electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to alleviate symptoms. ECT is when the treatment team artificially induces a convulsion (frequent convulsions) in the patient (through electricity). ECT can change the chemical balance of the brain to relieve symptoms of depression.