Depression Types

Depression is not just a single disorder. There are a number of different types of depression. In addition, there are several different systems by which mental disorders, including depressive disorders are classified. Keep reading for more on depression types.


Two of the most prominent of these systems are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) from the World Health Organization (WHO). Both these systems are used internationally. There are also other systems that are used less widely.

In both systems, depression is presented in two different ways. First, there is a group of mood disorders in which depression is the or a major feature. But second, there are, in each case, an assorted group of other disorders in which depressive plays such an important role that a form of the word depressed occurs in the name (that is, it is a required component of the disorder, as opposed to a possible symptom). The two systems, however, have some notable differences in the array of types of depression they lay out.

DSM-IV and Depression Types

In the DSM-IV, depression is found as a group of disorders in the category of mood disorders and as an accompaniment to other types of disorder.

The subgroup of depressive disorders in the category called Mood Disorders in looks like this:

Dysthymic disorder (chronic depression)

Major depressive disorder

  • Recurrent major depressive disorder - in full remission; in partial remission; mild; moderate; severe without psychotic features; severe with psychotic features; unspecified
  • Single episode major depressive disorder - in full remission; in partial remission; mild; moderate; severe without psychotic features; severe with psychotic features; unspecified

Depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS)

The other section of the mood disorders is Bipolar Disorders and all Bipolar Disorders I and II except for a single manic episode involve depression at some point, as do cyclothymia and bipolar not otherwise specified (NOS). The difference between bipolar disorders and depressive disorders is that bipolar disorders manifest with at least one manic or hypomanic episode, creating a mood that is conceived of as being the opposite of depression, hence including both of a set of opposites (bipolar).

The other DSM-IV diagnoses in which depression is included are three dementia disorders and two adjustment disorders. (Adjustment disorder occurs when the psychological reaction to a stressor that is within the normal realm of life events (but does not include a loved one’s death, on the one hand, or the kind of particularly disturbing and unusual stressor involved in post-traumatic stress disorder) is inordinate, judged by how most people respond to the stress.

  • Early onset Alzheimer’s dementia with depressed mood
  • Late onset Alzheimer’s dementia with depressed mood
  • Vascular dementia with depressed mood
  • Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
  • Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood

ICD-10 and Depression Types

In the ICD-10, depression is found as a group of disorders in the category of Mood (affective) Disorders and as an accompaniment to other types of disorder.

The subgroup of depressive disorders in the category called Mood Disorders in looks like this:

Mood (affective) Disorders

Bipolar affective disorder

  • Bipolar affective disorder, current episode mild or moderate depression
  • Bipolar affective disorder, current episode severe depression without psychotic symptoms
  • Bipolar affective disorder, current episode severe depression with psychotic symptoms

Depressive episode

  • Mild depressive episode
  • Moderate depressive episode
  • Severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms
  • Severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms
  • Other depressive episodes
  • Depressive episode, unspecified

Recurrent depressive disorder - Mild episode, moderate episode, severe episode without psychotic symptoms; severe episode with psychotic symptoms; currently in remission; other recurrent depressive disorders; recurrent depressive disorder, unspecified

Cyclothymia

Dysthymia           

The other ICD-10 diagnoses in which depression is included are more far-ranging than in the DSM-IV, but does not include adjustment disorders.

  • Unspecified senile depressed dementia
  • Post-schizophrenic depression
  • Psychogenic depressive psychosis
  • Psychotic depression
  • Reactive depressive psychosis
  • Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type
  • Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder
  • Depressive conduct disorder

Sources

apps.who.int
counsellingresource.com

Related Article: Alcohol Depression >>