This combination approach may be more successful at reducing the severity of your symptoms than using either treatment independently. Health professionals often use a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants to treat PDD. In some cases, PDD lasts so long that you may believe its symptoms are just part of who you are. This has led some people to call this condition “high-functioning depression,” which is actually not a formal diagnosis. Some people with PDD have experienced a major loss, while others experience the condition due to being under chronic stress.īecause symptoms are often not as severe as those of other types of depression, they can sometimes go undetected. You may also deal with pessimism and a poor self-image. When you live with PDD, you may have low energy levels or feel unmotivated and disengaged from life at times.

Sometimes called dysthymia, PDD is a chronic condition that generally involves less severe - but longer-lasting - symptoms than clinical depression. When your depression symptoms last for 2 years or longer, you are likely to receive a diagnosis of persistent depressive disorder. If you start treatment soon after you experience the first symptoms, you might be more likely to recover and prevent future episodes. MDD episodes can last between 6 and 18 months or longer. Some people experience clinical depression only once in their life, while others have recurring episodes. Symptoms of clinical depression include low mood, loss of interest in daily activities, lack of energy, and feelings of low self-worth. Major depressive disorder (MDD)Īlso known as clinical depression, major depressive disorder (MDD) is what most people refer to when talking about depression. There are many types of depression, and the type you’re experiencing may impact how long or intense your symptoms are.

A depressive episode