MDD is a mood disorder that causes long-term feelings of sadness, lack of energy, and disinterest in activities. This is different from what people call “feeling depressed,” which is usually short term and caused by an outside event.

When it comes to major depressive disorder vs depression, the biggest difference is that MDD causes sadness regardless of the situation. In fact, receiving a major depressive disorder diagnosis usually requires displaying consistent symptoms for at least two weeks.

But what are these symptoms? Here are some of the major depressive disorder symptoms that you should watch out for:

• Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness that continue even in “happy” circumstances
• Unwarranted bouts of anger
• Problems falling asleep or staying awake
• Suicidal thoughts or actions are some of the most severe major depressive disorder symptoms

Now you have an understanding of the primary major depressive disorder criteria, but how does MDD develop?

It’s not clear what causes MDD. However, like other mental health conditions, experts believe that it’s caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Brain Chemistry: Neurotransmitters that transmit “happy” chemicals may be less effective at chemical binding in individuals with MDD. The result is dulled feelings of happiness and persistent feelings of sadness.

• Brain Structure: Preliminary evidence suggests that individuals with MDD may have structural differences in their brains, but the extent of the difference and how much it affects MDD is still unclear.

• Genetics: While there is no known cause of major depressive disorder, your risk of developing MDD is higher if a blood relative has also been diagnosed with this condition.

Now that you know the ins and outs of MDD, let’s look at some major depressive disorder treatment options.