The meaning of the word depression

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Depression
Lithograph of a person diagnosed with melancholia and strong suicidal tendency in 1892
Specialty	Psychiatry, psychology
Symptoms	Low mood, aversion to activity, loss of interest, loss of feeling pleasure
Causes	Brain chemistry, genetics, life events, medical conditions, personality[1]
Risk factors	Stigma of mental health disorder[2]
Diagnostic method	Patient Health Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory
Differential diagnosis	Anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder
Prevention	Social connections, physical activity
Treatment	Psychotherapy, psychopharmacology

Depression is a mental state of low mood and aversion to activity.^[3] It affects more than 280 million people of all ages (about 3.5% of the global population).^[4] Depression affects a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being.^[5] Depressed people often experience loss of motivation or interest in, or reduced pleasure or joy from, experiences that would normally bring them pleasure or joy.^[6] Depressed mood is a symptom of some mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and dysthymia;^[7] it is a normal temporary reaction to life events, such as the loss of a loved one; and it is also a symptom of some physical diseases and a side effect of some drugs and medical treatments.
It may feature sadness, difficulty in thinking and concentration and a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping. People experiencing depression may have feelings of dejection or hopelessness and may experience suicidal thoughts. It can either be short term or long term.

Contributing factors

Life events

Adversity in childhood, such as bereavement, neglect, mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or unequal parental treatment of siblings can contribute to depression in adulthood.^[8][9] Childhood physical or sexual abuse in particular significantly correlates with the likelihood of experiencing depression over the survivor’s lifetime.^[10]

Life events and changes that may cause depressed mood include (but are not limited to): childbirth, menopause, financial difficulties, unemployment, stress (such as from work, education, family, living conditions etc.), a medical diagnosis (cancer, HIV, etc.), bullying, loss of a loved one, natural disasters, social isolation, rape, relationship troubles, jealousy, separation, or catastrophic injury.^{[11][12][13][14][15]} Adolescents may be especially prone to experiencing a depressed mood following social rejection, peer pressure, or bullying.^[16]

Personality

Depression is associated with low extraversion,^[17] and people who have high levels of neuroticism are more likely to experience depressive symptoms and are more likely to receive a diagnosis of a depressive disorder.^[18]

Side effect of medical treatment

It is possible that some early-generation beta-blockers induce depression in some patients, though the evidence for this is weak and conflicting. There is strong evidence for a link between alpha interferon therapy and depression. One study found that a third of alpha interferon-treated patients had developed depression after three months of treatment. (Beta interferon therapy appears to have no effect on rates of depression.) There is moderately strong evidence that finasteride when used in the treatment of alopecia increases depressive symptoms in some patients. Evidence linking isotretinoin, an acne treatment, to depression is strong. ^[19] Other medicines that seem to increase the risk of depression include anticonvulsants, antimigraine drugs, antipsychotics and hormonal agents such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist^[20]

Substance-induced

Several drugs of abuse can cause or exacerbate depression, whether in intoxication, withdrawal, and from chronic use. These include alcohol, sedatives (including prescription benzodiazepines), opioids (including prescription pain killers and illicit drugs such as heroin), stimulants (such as cocaine and amphetamines), hallucinogens, and inhalants.^[21]

Non-psychiatric illnesses

Depressed mood can be the result of a number of infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies, neurological conditions,^[22] and physiological problems, including hypoandrogenism (in men), addison’s disease, cushing’s syndrome, pernicious anemia, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, stroke,^[23] diabetes,^[24] and cancer.^[25]

Psychiatric syndromes

A number of psychiatric syndromes feature depressed mood as a main symptom. The mood disorders are a group of disorders considered to be primary disturbances of mood. These include major depressive disorder (commonly called major depression or clinical depression) where a person has at least two weeks of depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities; and dysthymia, a state of chronic depressed mood, the symptoms of which do not meet the severity of a major depressive episode. Another mood disorder, bipolar disorder, features one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood, cognition, and energy levels, but may also involve one or more episodes of depression.^[26] When the course of depressive episodes follows a seasonal pattern, the disorder (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, etc.) may be described as a seasonal affective disorder.

Outside the mood disorders: borderline personality disorder often features an extremely intense depressive mood; adjustment disorder with depressed mood is a psychological response to an identifiable event or stressor, in which the resulting emotional or behavioral symptoms are significant but do not meet the criteria for a major depressive episode;^[27]: 355 and posttraumatic stress disorder, a mental disorder that sometimes follows trauma, is commonly accompanied by depressed mood.^[28]

Historical legacy

Researchers have begun to conceptualize ways in which the historical legacies of racism and colonialism may create depressive conditions.^[29][30]

Measures

Measures of depression include, but are not limited to: Beck Depression Inventory-11 and the 9-item depression scale in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).^[31] Both of these measures are psychological tests that ask personal questions of the participant, and have mostly been used to measure the severity of depression. The Beck Depression Inventory is a self-report scale that helps a therapist identify the patterns of depression symptoms and monitor recovery. The responses on this scale can be discussed in therapy to devise interventions for the most distressing symptoms of depression.^[6]

Theories

Schools of depression theories include:

• Cognitive theory of depression
• Tripartite Model of Anxiety and Depression
• Behavioral theories of depression
• Evolutionary approaches to depression
• Biology of depression
• Epigenetics of depression

Management

Depressed mood may not require professional treatment, and may be a normal temporary reaction to life events, a symptom of some medical condition, or a side effect of some drugs or medical treatments. A prolonged depressed mood, especially in combination with other symptoms, may lead to a diagnosis of a psychiatric or medical condition which may benefit from treatment.

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2009 guidelines indicate that antidepressants should not be routinely used for the initial treatment of mild depression, because the risk-benefit ratio is poor.^[32]

Physical activity has a protective effect against the emergence of depression in some people.^[33]

There is limited evidence suggesting yoga may help some people with depressive disorders or elevated levels of depression, but more research is needed.^[34][35]

Reminiscence of old and fond memories is another alternative form of treatment, especially for the elderly who have lived longer and have more experiences in life. It is a method that causes a person to recollect memories of their own life, leading to a process of self-recognition and identifying familiar stimuli. By maintaining one’s personal past and identity, it is a technique that stimulates people to view their lives in a more objective and balanced way, causing them to pay attention to positive information in their life stories, which would successfully reduce depressive mood levels.^[36]

There is limited evidence that continuing antidepressant medication for one year reduces the risk of depression recurrence with no additional harm.^[37] Recommendations for psychological treatments or combination treatments in preventing recurrence are not clear.^[37]

Epidemiology

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, the United Nations (UN) health agency reported, estimating that it affects more than 300 million people worldwide – the majority of them women, young people and the elderly. An estimated 4.4 percent of the global population has depression, according to a report released by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), which shows an 18 percent increase in the number of people living with depression between 2005 and 2015.^[38][39][40]

Depression is a major mental-health cause of disease burden. Its consequences further lead to significant burden in public health, including a higher risk of dementia, premature mortality arising from physical disorders, and maternal depression impacts on child growth and development.^[41] Approximately 76% to 85% of depressed people in low- and middle-income countries do not receive treatment;^[42] barriers to treatment include: inaccurate assessment, lack of trained health-care providers, social stigma and lack of resources.^[43]

The stigma comes from misguided societal views that people with mental illness are different from everyone else, and they can choose to get better only if they wanted to.^[44] Due to this more than half of the people with depression do not receive help with their disorders. The stigma leads to a strong preference for privacy.

The World Health Organization has constructed guidelines – known as The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) – aiming to increase services for people with mental, neurological and substance-use disorders.^[43] Depression is listed as one of conditions prioritized by the programme. Trials conducted show possibilities for the implementation of the programme in low-resource primary-care settings dependent on primary-care practitioners and lay health-workers.^[45]
Examples of mhGAP-endorsed therapies targeting depression include Group Interpersonal Therapy as group treatment for depression and «Thinking Health», which utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy to tackle perinatal depression.^[43] Furthermore, effective screening in primary care is crucial for the access of treatments. The mhGAP adopted its approach of improving detection rates of depression by training general practitioners. However, there is still weak evidence supporting this training.^[41]

History

The term depression was derived from the Latin verb deprimere, «to press down».^[46] From the 14th century, «to depress» meant to subjugate or to bring down in spirits. It was used in 1665 in English author Richard Baker’s Chronicle to refer to someone having «a great depression of spirit», and by English author Samuel Johnson in a similar sense in 1753.^[47]

In Ancient Greece, disease was thought due to an imbalance in the four basic bodily fluids, or humors. Personality types were similarly thought to be determined by the dominant humor in a particular person. Derived from the Ancient Greek melas, «black», and kholé, «bile»,^[48] melancholia was described as a distinct disease with particular mental and physical symptoms by Hippocrates in his Aphorisms, where he characterized all «fears and despondencies, if they last a long time» as being symptomatic of the ailment.^[49]

During the 18th century, the humoral theory of melancholia was increasingly being challenged by mechanical and electrical explanations; references to dark and gloomy states gave way to ideas of slowed circulation and depleted energy.^[50] German physician Johann Christian Heinroth, however, argued melancholia was a disturbance of the soul due to moral conflict within the patient.

In the 20th century, the German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin distinguished manic depression. The influential system put forward by Kraepelin unified nearly all types of mood disorder into manic–depressive insanity. Kraepelin worked from an assumption of underlying brain pathology, but also promoted a distinction between endogenous (internally caused) and exogenous (externally caused) types.^[51]

Other psycho-dynamic theories were proposed. Existential and humanistic theories represented a forceful affirmation of individualism.^[52] Austrian existential psychiatrist Viktor Frankl connected depression to feelings of futility and meaninglessness.^[53] Frankl’s logotherapy addressed the filling of an «existential vacuum» associated with such feelings, and may be particularly useful for depressed adolescents.^[54][55]

Researchers theorized that depression was caused by a chemical imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, a theory based on observations made in the 1950s of the effects of reserpine and isoniazid in altering monoamine neurotransmitter levels and affecting depressive symptoms.^[56] During the 1960s and 70s, manic-depression came to refer to just one type of mood disorder (now most commonly known as bipolar disorder) which was distinguished from (unipolar) depression. The terms unipolar and bipolar had been coined by German psychiatrist Karl Kleist.^[51]

In July 2022, British psychiatrist Joanna Moncrieff, also psychiatrist Mark Horowtiz and others proposed in a study on academic journal Molecular Psychiatry that depression is not caused by a serotonin imbalance in the human body, unlike what most of the psychiatry community points to, and that therefore anti-depressants don’t work against the illness.^[57][58] However, such study was met with criticism from some psychiatrists, who argued the study’s methodology used an indirect trace of serotonin, instead of taking direct measurements of the molecule.^[59] Moncrieff said that, despite her study’s conclusions, no one should interrupt their treatment if they are taking any anti-depressant.^[59]

See also

References

External links

• Media related to Depression (mood) at Wikimedia Commons

Have you ever felt depressed or suffered from clinical depression? You or someone you love have probably felt depressed at one time or another, but this feeling is distinct from clinical depression. This article will explain exactly what depression is and what causes it. Then, it will cover symptoms of depression and how to treat depression.

Finally, we will go over some topics that are related to depression, like how to say depression in other languages, synonyms, and antonyms. 

What Does Depression Mean?

According to the NIH (National Institute of Health) and the American Psychiatric Association, depression is a type of mental illness. Biologically, depression is when you have low amounts of the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain. Depression is listed as one of many mental illnesses in the DSM-5.

Depression could also be a symptom of other medical conditions and mental disorders like PMS, PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), bipolar disorder, postpartum depression (AKA the “baby blues”), or seasonal affective disorder.

Clinical depression is prevalent in adolescents and older adults. Types of depression range from mild depression to severe depression or major depression. 

Depression is able to manifest itself in many different ways, and depression can look different to everyone. Never assume that someone is doing fine, and make sure to check on your friends and family.

The Causes of Depression

Some people might go through a depressive episode due to life events like the loss of a family member, friend, loved one, or pet. Some people become lonely and isolated, which can lead to depression. Other people might become depressed due to work or unemployment. 

However, this persistent depressive disorder may have no definable cause and simply be due to an imbalance of serotonin. In these cases, making changes in one’s life may not help with depression, and further treatment or medication may be necessary.

The Symptoms of Depression

Take a look at the below list of possible symptoms of depression. Some people will have several of these, while others may only have one or two.

• A decrease in energy or an increase in fatigue
• Physical symptoms like sudden weight gain or weight loss
• Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of death
• Having trouble concentrating o remembering things
• Having to move or talk more slowly
• Having difficulty sleeping, waking up, or oversleeping
• A loss of interest or joy in hobbies and activities
• Experiencing feelings of irritability, hopelessness, guilt, pessimism, low self-esteem, worthlessness, restlessness, or helplessness
• Sudden aches, pains, cramps, headaches, or digestive problems that are untreatable and have no cause
• A consistent anxious, sad, numb, or empty mood

Suicide prevention is extremely important. If you, a family member, or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, contact a mental health professional or suicide hotline. 

Treatment of Depression

There are various ways that a mental healthcare provider of psychology or psychiatry might treat depression. These include antidepressant medication like SSRIs, talk therapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), transcranial magnetic stimulation, or other forms of psychotherapy. 

Make sure to discuss potential side effects when thinking about medication.

What Are Translations of Depression?

Sadly, people all over the world experience depression. If you work overseas or have friends in other countries, it might be useful to know how to say the word depression in other languages. 

You can reference this list of translations of the word depression from Nice Translator to learn how to communicate about depression with people worldwide. 

• Swedish: depression
• Arabic: كآبة
• Amharic: ድብርት
• Czech: Deprese
• Serbian: депресија
• Vietnamese: Phiền muộn
• Marathi: औदासिन्य
• Chinese (Taiwan): 沮喪
• Basque: depresio
• Ukrainian: депресія
• Catalan: depressió
• Estonian: depressioon
• Hungarian: depresszió
• Portuguese (Portugal): depressão
• Dutch: depressie
• Chinese (PRC): 沮丧
• Thai: ภาวะซึมเศร้า
• Italian: depressione
• Spanish: depresión
• Lithuanian: depresija
• Croatian: depresija
• Gujarati: હતાશા
• Finnish: masennus
• Turkish: depresyon
• Bengali: বিষণ্ণতা
• Slovak: depresia
• Hebrew: דִכָּאוֹן
• Icelandic: Þunglyndi
• Russian: депрессия
• Portuguese (Brazil): depressão
• Malayalam: നൈരാശം
• Telugu: డిప్రెషన్
• Tamil: மனச்சோர்வு
• Welsh: iselder
• Urdu: ذہنی دباؤ
• Greek: κατάθλιψη
• French: la dépression
• Japanese: うつ
• Slovenian: depresija
• Romanian: depresie
• Latvian: depresija
• German: Depression
• Bulgarian: депресия
• Polish: depresja
• Swahili: huzuni
• Indonesian: depresi
• Hindi: डिप्रेशन
• Norwegian: depresjon
• Kannada: ಖಿನ್ನತೆ
• Malay: kemurungan
• Danish: depression
• Filipino: pagkalumbay
• Korean: 우울증

What Are Synonyms of Depression?

Depression is a mental health condition with definitive symptoms. To talk about other words for depression, you can use this list of synonyms of depression from Power Thesaurus. 

How many of these synonyms of depression do you already know? Many of these have a negative connotation.

• anguish
• basin
• blues
• cavity
• concavity
• crater
• decline
• dejection
• dent
• depressed
• desolation
• despair
• desperation
• despondency
• dimple
• dip
• discouragement
• dispiritedness
• distress
• doldrums
• dolefulness
• downheartedness
• downturn
• dumps
• economic crisis
• ennui
• funk
• gloom
• gloominess
• glumness
• grief
• heartache
• hole
• hollow
• hopelessness
• impression
• imprint
• indentation
• low spirits
• malaise
• melancholia
• melancholy
• misery
• mournfulness
• pain
• pessimism
• pit
• recess
• recession
• sadness
• slump
• sorrow
• stagnation
• trough
• unhappiness
• valley
• woe
• wretchedness

What Are Antonyms of Depression?

Power Thesaurus also provides us with many antonyms of depression, many of which have a positive connotation.

• amusement
• animation
• bliss
• blissfulness
• blitheness
• bulge
• buoyancy
• carefreeness
• cheer
• cheerfulness
• cheeriness
• cloud nine
• comfort
• confidence
• contentedness
• contentment
• convexity
• day
• delight
• economic sustainability
• ecstasy
• effervescence
• elation
• elevation
• encouragement
• enjoyment
• euphoria
• exhilaration
• exuberance
• exultation
• felicity
• fun
• gaiety
• gladness
• glee
• good cheer
• good spirits
• gratification
• happiness
• heaven
• high spirits
• hope
• hopefulness
• humor
• hump
• increase
• jollity
• joviality
• joy
• joyfulness
• joyousness
• jubilation
• light-heartedness
• merriment
• mirth
• optimism
• paradise
• party
• peak
• pleasure
• pride
• protuberance
• rapture
• recovery
• satisfaction
• seventh heaven
• surge
• well-being

Conclusion

Depression is a mental health condition or a symptom of another condition. Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder with symptoms like a lack of interest in hobbies or activities or a generally sad or listless mood. If you are experiencing depression or other mental health conditions, contact a mental health professional.

Sources:

Depression synonyms – 2 322 Words and Phrases for Depression | Power Thesaurus

Depression antonyms – 987 Opposites of Depression | Power Thesaurus 

NIMH » Depression | National Institute of Heath NIH

Depression | APA 

Depression | Nice Translator

PoetsIN is all about words. Whether they are written or spoken, they are fundamental to everything we do; empowering people who are struggling with their mental health through workshops and a safe community.

We use terminology and phrases about mental health day in and day out – but what of their origins? That’s why we are starting a series of etymology articles with the word ‘Stigma’; something attached to mental health and quintessential to our quest in speaking openly about what ails us.

The origins of the word ‘depression’ in English are at first blush, somewhat bland, unremarkable, even dull; in a word, depressing. Etymology looks at two things: the original meaning of the word and what the word has come to mean, how it has been used over time. The word, ‘awful’ transforms completely, from ‘full of awe’ or ‘awe inspiring’ to something ‘wretched’. Words like ‘depression’ undergo no such transformation. Sometimes we have to look to other forms of the word and track the meaning from the root word through the various uses of the word in that context.

In English Through the Ages, William
Brohaugh reports that the word depression in the sense of being “sad” was in
use by 1625 (150). [i] I
should say too, that, as someone who suffers from chronic depression and has
for a long time, I bristle at the notion that ‘depression’ is characterized as
“sad.” In Brohaugh’s defense, his book is mostly a list of words and dates, so
the gloss is excusable.  In any case,
let’s put that aside for now and dig into the word a bit more.

The OED[ii] entries for “depression” and “depress” are instructive, with some coaxing and extrapolation, as we will see. The Old French, Latin and Italian forms are almost the same as the English, they are not nearly as entertaining as a Greek form might be, so I won’t bother listing them. What is more instructive, the very first, now obsolete use of the word is given as: “To put down by force, or crush in a contest or struggle; to overcome, subjugate, vanquish” (219).  The second, also obsolete meaning or use in English, is also quite interesting: “To press hard; to ply closely with questions, entreaties, etc.” (219). Let’s put a pin in those and continue.

The entries that follow, contrary to
Brohaugh’s account, give quotes and a dates, as early as 1526, for uses that
are consistent with our sense of its current meaning: “To press down (in
space.) Often, more widely: To force, bring, move, or put into a lower position
by any physical action: to lower.”  The
quote following the entry references depressing a bellows to fan a flame. A
figurative use of the word, from the same date, “To lower in station, fortune
or influence: to put down, bring low, humble.” And immediately following
another, similar reference includes yet a further aspect of the same action:
“to keep down, repress, restrain from activity….” The example of this use of
the word is dated from 1562. In fact, in many of these figurative uses, the
idea of being ‘depressed’ is linked to lowering one’s dignity or making someone
more humble, “undignified” or even “debased.” 
Then, as Brohaugh suggests, around 1621 the word takes on a more exact
version of its current meaning: “To bring into low spirits, cast down mentally,
dispirit, deject, sadden” (219, 220). [iii]

I am fairly certain that many of you, as you read the list, found yourselves as I did, saying “yes, that’s what depression feels like!” Depression is “crushing,” one can feel “overcome”; and the person pressing or plying you with questions, is you—and anyone else who notices that you are depressed. There is also, I think a loss of dignity or even a sense of humiliation that we inflict on ourselves and that may be amplified by others, simply because we can’t just ‘snap out of it.’ In fact, the more recent, current meanings of “dispirit” or “sadden,” almost sanitize the earlier and more visceral associations that once attached to being depressed. I want to look further into the idea of ‘de-spiriting,’ but first we should note the OED’s listings for the full form of the word depression.

We will put aside all of the interesting ancillary meanings and applications that no one (okay, few people have) has ever heard of—in astronomy, or gunnery, or surgery, or surveying—all of which have to do with an angle or distance below a given horizontal point of reference. These are fascinating in their own right, but they are obscure, to the point of being almost obsolete. Let’s get to the good stuff—the “lowering of a column of mercury in a barometer, or of the atmospheric pressure which is thereby measured” (219).  Sorry, couldn’t resist. The 6^th entry (once again) is more to our point: “the condition of being depressed in spirits; dejection[iv]” (220).  A condition, in this sense, is a state of being; states of being can be active (acting), passive (acted upon) or static (neither acting, nor acted upon).  We are reminded to, in the OED that in its obsolete meaning, condition could also mean the nature or quality of a thing, thus implying a kind of stasis. In other words, it may be a state of being that will not easily be changed or acted upon. Depression is not, then, something one can simply ‘get over.’

Let’s return then, for a few moments to the idea of depression as “de-spirited.” I’ve broken the word into its root and its prefix. “De” is a prefix that almost always means “of” or “from,” as in “away from” or to have something taken away; in this case, to have one’s spirit taken away. Spirit, as I am using it, is not at all religious or mystical. I’m using spirit in the sense that a horse may be ‘spirited’; or we when we visited grandma in the hospital, she seemed in good spirits; or even, the candidates engaged in spirited debate over the legalization of drugs and prostitution. Spirit has long been associated with one’s vigor or health, rather than with ghosts and souls. This is probably inconsistent with the meaning of spirit as it was used in the 16^th or 17^th century, even in connection with depression as a condition or state of being, that is ‘de-spirited.’ To make this distinction is to remind myself that, to feel ‘de-spirited’ is not to have lost one’s spirit, nor to have one’s spirit taken away—because that simply can’t happen.

In the oldest use of the words “spirit” and
“soul” they were inseparable from “breath.” To “in-spire” is to “breathe in”;
to “ex-spire” is to breathe out—albeit for the last time. To be “inspired” is
to be ‘filled with spirit’ or breath –pneuma, as in ‘pneumatic’ –or
powered by air. Psyche is soul; but the distinction between soul and
spirit is only about as old as Descartes and Cartesian materialism.[v]
Rene Descartes was, of course, the French philosopher and one time mercenary,
who proclaimed “I think, therefore I am”—in a book (Meditations)
inspired by a visit from an angel. He also thought that the soul resided in the
pineal gland (Hillman, 68). By the way, contemporary scientists (many of whom
are Cartesian materialists) have no idea what the pineal gland does—neither do
I. I am completely agnostic when it comes to matters of soul.  Anyway.

We will stipulate that no matter how bad things get, one cannot deprive oneself, nor can one be deprived of one’s spirit, simply because one is depressed. This is true, whether one believes in a soul, or not; this is true whether one feels ‘de-spirited’ or ‘crushed’ or ‘oppressed,’ or not. The wisdom of this realization is, in fact, locked within the history of the word spirit itself: you cannot be de-spirited—unless you stop breathing. My strategy, for better or worse, when dealing with my own depression, is to simply just keep breathing.

---

[i] Brohaugh, William. English Through the Ages. Writer’s Digest
Books, 1998.

[ii] The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: p-z. II,
Oxford University Press, 1971. (692)

[iii] I am skipping around and down the page, the quotes are from several
different, numbered or lettered sections; most are on page 219 in the text on
page 629 of my compact edition. I note the change to the next ‘page’ following
the last quote, only in passing. If you want to check my references, you’ll
want to read the entire entry.  The last
bit was the 6^th numbered entry given for the word ‘Depress’; and I
am sure that there is a proper and tidy way to reference this fact in the MLA
Style Handbook, but this is a blog and not a term paper—and the critical reader
should be pleased, shocked and amused, that I am using endnotes to reference my
sources at all….

[iv] Quick note: dejection is from the Latin past participle of Dejicere
–to throw down or throw away. We can leave it at that.

[v] For a much more complete discussion, see Hillman, James. Revisioning
Psychology. Harper and Row, 1977 (67-70). He has a much different take,
regarding psyche, but we’ll get there another time.

1

0   0 An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way a person eats, sleeps, feels about himself or herself, and thinks about things. Depression is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with depression cannot merely ‘pull themselves tog [..]

2	0   0 depression See: Agitated depression.

3	0   0 depression See: Bipolar disorder.

4

0   0 depression A type of depression involving long-term, chronic symptoms that are not disabling, but keep a person from functioning at «full steam» or from feeling good. Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression than what is accorded the diagnosis of major depression. However, people with dysthymia may also sometimes experience major depressive epi [..]

5	0   0 depression A mental condition marked by ongoing feelings of sadness, despair, loss of energy, and difficulty dealing with normal daily life. Other symptoms of depression include feelings of worthlessness and hop [..]

6	0   0 depression (1) Concave hollow found on the Earth’s surface. (2) Term used to describe a cyclone or an atmospheric low pressure system.

7	0   0 depression Period when excess aggregate supply overwhelms aggregate demand, resulting in falling prices, unemployment problems, and economic contraction.

8	0   0 depression A region of low atmospheric pressure that is usually accompanied by low clouds and precipitation. The term is also sometimes used as a reference to a Tropical Depression.

9	0   0 depression 1 [uncountable] a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical symptoms such as being unable to sleep, etc. clinical depression She suffered from severe depres [..]

10	0   0 depression late 14c. as a term in astronomy, from Old French depression (14c.) or directly from Latin depressionem (nominative depressio), noun of action from past participle stem of deprimere «to press dow [..]

11	0   0 depression A phase of the business cycle characterized by a rapid decline in gross national product and employment.

12	0   0 depression period of economic hardship, when employment and wages are low, and the value of businesses declines.

13	0   0 depression indentation or dip in the landscape.

14	0   0 depression mental disorder characterized by extreme sadness and emotional withdrawal.

15	0   0 depression In general, a point or limited area of locally lower elevation in a particular surface. In meteorology, an area of low pressure; a low or trough. This is usually applied to a certain stage in the deve [..]

16

0   0 depression A depression is a severe and prolonged downturn in the economy. Prices fall, reducing purchasing power. There tends to be high unemployment, lower productivity, shrinking wages, and general economic pessimism. Since the Great Depression following the stock market crash of 1929, the governments and central banks of industrialized countries have care [..]

17	0   0 depression A mental state associated with acute sadness. Activity can be decreased, especially interaction with others, and sleep, appetite, and concentration can also be disturbed.

18	0   0 depression An extended period—a decade or so—of restructuring and institutional change in an economy that’s often marked by declining or stagnant growth. During this period, unemployment tends to be highe [..]

19	0   0 depression A mood disorder with prolonged feelings of being sad, hopeless, low and inadequate, with a loss of interest or pleasure in activities and often with suicidal thoughts or self-blame.

20	0   0 depression a hole or a soft, bowl-shaped or dipped spot in the yard.

21	0   0 depression a low pressure system.

22	0   0 depression a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low levels of trade and [..]

23	0   0 depression A severe recession that lasts several years and/or involves a loss of real GDP of more than 10%. (There is no standard definition.) [Origin]

24	0   0 depression A mood disorder with prolonged feelings of being sad, hopeless, low and inadequate, with a loss of interest or pleasure in activities and often with suicidal thoughts or self-blame.

25	0   0 depression n. A falling of the spirits.

26	0   0 depression weather system of the mid-latitudes, where warm, tropical air meets cold, polar air causing the tropical air to rise and thus creating an area of low pressure. Characterized by a circular pattern of i [..]

27	0   0 depression Definition A period during which business activity drops significantly. High unemployment rates and deflation often accompany a depression.

28	0   0 depression 1. A dysphoria that can cary from mild to severe mood changes. 2. Psychiatry. A dpressive disorder.

29	0   0 depression depression (pop)

30	0   0 depression An especially severe recession. Depressions suggest that fundamental corrections are occurring in the economy, much more so than in the normal fluctuations of the business cycle. Keynes believed that [..]

31	0   0 depression Depression is a mental state that is typified by low energy levels, sadness, lack of interest in otherwise pleasurable activities. Existing along a spectrum this mental state can range from mild to se [..]

32	0   0 depression An affective disorder characterised by a profound and persistent sadness.

33	0   0 depression Depression can be psychotic or neurotic. A psychotic depression is a distortion of beliefs and perceptions. A neurotic depression is a feeling of gloom and inadequacy.

34	0   0 depression A psychiatric condition characterized by such symptoms as an unhappy mood; loss of interests, energy, and appetite; and difficulty concentrating. See also bipolar disorder and unipolar depression.

35	0   0 depression A severe, prolonged economic contraction.

36	0   0 depression term used to describe an emotional state involving sadness, lack of energy and low self-esteem.

37	0   0 depression The correction period following an inflation of the money supply. Usually includes a lot of business failures and unemployment as the malinvestment is shaken out.

38	0   0 depression a bad economy period when companies decrease production and many people lose their jobs.

39	0   0 depression Background: Depression is characterized by a loss of interest in activities, persistent fatigue, difficulty in concentrating and making decisions, persistent feelings of emptiness or hopelessness and [..]

40	0   0 depression An extreme decline in economic productivity that is more severe than a recession.

41	0   0 depression A severe and long-lasting economic downturn that is worse and deeper than a recession; a severe reduction in gross domestic product (GDP).

42	0   0 depression is a sustained downturn in economic activity characterized by high unemployment, decreased output and reduced levels of trade.

43	0   0 depression Depression is a prolonged period of recession or downturn in the economy. A depression is usually characterized by increases in unemployment, decline of business activities, as well as currency fluctu [..]

44	0   0 depression You may initially be diagnosed with clinical depression

45	0   0 depression (n) a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity(n) a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low levels of t [..]

46	0   0 depression Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad. But these feelings are usually short-lived and pass within a couple of days. When you have depression, it interferes with daily life and causes pain for both y [..]

47	0   0 depression   A mental state characterised by feelings of sadness, despair and low self-esteem.

48	0   0 depression A region of low atmospheric pressure that is usually accompanied by low clouds and precipitation.

49	0   0 depression A long-lasting recession in economic activity.

50	0   0 depression Depression and Chronic Pain Video Clinical depression refers to a long-term mental state characterized by feelings of sadness, inadequacy and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. Clinical depression is [..]

51	0   0 depression An abnormal lowering of mood of psychologic or physiologic origin which is more prolonged than mourning and is time-limited and related to a specific loss.

52	0   0 depression Persistent sadness characterized by a loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, and accompanied by changes in appetite and sleep patterns, restlessness or a loss of energy, difficulty in concen [..]

53	0   0 depression It’s normal to feel sad sometimes, but if you feel that way for a long time, and you never feel happy, it’s called depression. Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out what’s causing a p [..]

54	0   0 depression   an abnormal emotional state in which the individual experiences an exaggerated feeling of sadness, worthlessness and hopelessness, inappropriate and out of proportion to some personal loss or tragedy.

55	0   0 depression Depression is an altered mood state involving sadness, loss of concentration, and apathy. Depression is a relatively common symptom of multiple sclerosis, where it can be reactive, i.e. a response to [..]

56	0   0 depression In meteorology it is another name for an area of low pressure, a low or trough. It also applies to the initial stage of a developing tropical cyclone.

57	0   0 depression A general term signifying any depressed or lower area in the ocean floor.

58	0   0 depression Depressive states usually of moderate intensity in contrast with major depression present in neurotic and Psychotic Disorders.

59	0   0 depression The decrease in a measurable parameter of a Physiological Process, including cellular, microbial, and Plant; immunological, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, urinary, digestive, neural, muscu [..]

60	0   0 depression Severe economic downturn that lasts several years.

61	0   0 depression Long-term Depression resulting from repeated low-frequency stimulation in only the pathway receiving the induction protocol. It follows induction of Long-Term Potentiation and reverses it.

62	0   0 depression Form of Depression in those MIDDLE AGE with feelings of Anxiety.

63	0   0 depression A persistent activity-dependent decrease in synaptic efficacy between Neurons. It typically occurs following repeated low-frequency afferent stimulation, but it can be induced by other methods. Long-t [..]

64	0   0 depression Depression in Postpartum Women, usually within four weeks after giving Birth (Parturition). The degree of Depression ranges from mild transient Depression to neurotic or psychotic Depressive Disorders [..]

65	0   0 depression The decrease in neuronal activity (related to a decrease in metabolic demand) extending from the site of cortical stimulation. It is believed to be responsible for the decrease in cerebral Blood flow [..]

66	0   0 depression Failure to respond to two or more trials of antidepressant monotherapy or failure to respond to four or more trials of different antidepressant therapies. (Campbell’s Psychiatric Dictionary, 9th [..]

67	0   0 depression A mood disorder characterized by sadness, inactivity, and inability to take pleasure or interest in usual activities. The changes in mood can interfere with daily life and normal functioning. Use of some antiretroviral (ARV) drugs may cause depression.

68	0   0 depression Of horizon, is angular distance of visible horizon, or shore horizon, below sensible horizon. Usually termed ‘Dip’. 2. Atmospheric mass in which barometric pressure is lower than that of sur [..]

69	0   0 depression An area of low atmospheric pressure.

70	0   0 depression An area of low barometric pressure. The wind circulates clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counter:clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Generally these are bad weather systems.

71	0   0 depression An area of low barometric pressure. The wind circulates clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Generally these are bad weather systems.

72	0   0 depression Depressive states usually of moderate intensity in contrast with major depression present in neurotic and psychotic disorders.

73	0   0 depression Depression in POSTPARTUM WOMEN, usually within four weeks after giving birth (PARTURITION). The degree of depression ranges from mild transient depression to neurotic or psychotic depressive disorders [..]

74	0   0 depression In animals, this usually refers to lowered activity and lack of interest in surroundings.

75	0   0 depression A lowering of vitality of functional activity: the state of being below normal in physical or mental vitality.

76	0   0 depression a depressive disorder characterized by extreme feelings of sadness, lack of self-worth, and dejection.

77	0   0 depression A psychiatric disorder characterized by sadness, hopelessness, pessimism, loss of interest in life, reduced emotional well­being, and abnormalities in sleep, appetite, and energy level.

78

0   0 depression A mental condition marked by ongoing feelings of sadness, despair, loss of energy, and difficulty dealing with normal daily life. Other symptoms of depression include feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, loss of pleasure in activities, changes in eating or sleeping habits, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression can affect anyone, and c [..]

79	0   0 depression A period during which business activity drops significantly. High unemployment rates and deflation often accompany a depression. See also recession

80	0   0 depression Continuous very low mood. Other symptoms of depression can include changes in your appetite or weight, sleeping problems and feelings of hopelessness. Depression is different from sadness; it is an il [..]

81	0   0 depression a disturbance in mood, thought, and body characterized by varying degrees of sadness, disappointment, loneliness, hopelessness, self-doubt,  and guilt. Most people tend to feel depressed at one time [..]

82	0   0 depression A period of economic crisis in business, commerce, finance, and industry, characterized by falling prices, restriction of credit, reduced production, lower profits, bankruptcies, and high unemployment [..]

83	0   0 depression A mass of air with low atmospheric pressure.

84	0   0 depression In meteorology, an area of low pressure; a low or trough. This is usually applied to a certain stage in the development of a tropical cyclone, to migratory lows and troughs, and to upper-level lows an [..]

85	0   0 depression A region of low atmospheric pressure that is usually accompanied by low clouds and precipitation. The term is also sometimes used as a reference to a Tropical Depression.

86	0   0 depression A prolonged downturn in the economy and level of business act ivity.

87	0   0 depression Denotes an economic condition characterised by lengthy period of low business activity when prices remain low, gross domestic product falls, purch [..]

88	0   0 depression Depression is a clinical illness characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness that do not lessen over time and eventually interfere with normal functio [..]

89	0   0 depression a constellation of emotional, cognitive and somatic signs and symptoms, including sustained sad mood or lack of pleasure Effective

90	0   0 depression A low place of any size on the Earth’s surface, also may refer to a sedimentary trough or basin.

91	0   0 depression In meteorology it is another name for a low pressure system, an area of low pressure or a trough.

92	0   0 depression A low-pressure weather system.

93	0   0 depression a region of low atmospheric pressure

94	0   0 depression A disorder marked by a persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that affects eating, sleeping, and activity. Major depression is not the same as the mood sw [..]

95

0   0 depression A mood disorder involving disturbances in emotion (excessive sadness), behavior (apathy and loss of interest in usual activities), cognition (distorted thoughts of hopelessness and low self-esteem), and body function (fatigue, loss of appetite). Symptoms extend into many parts of an individual’s life and include lack of interest in daily activ [..]

96

0   0 depression An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way a person eats, sleeps, feels about himself or herself, and thinks about things, marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopeles [..]

97	0   0 depression In meteorology, it is another name for an area of low pressure, a low, or trough. It also applies to a stage of tropical cyclone development and is known as a tropical depression to distinguish it from other synoptic features.

98	0   0 depression a region of low atmospheric pressure that is usually accompanied by low clouds and precipitation. Dew

99	0   0 depression In meteorology, it is another name for an area of low pressure, a low, or trough. It also applies to a stage of tropical cyclone development and is known as a tropical depression to distinguish it fro [..]

100	0   0 depression In meteorology

101	0   0 depression A region of low pressure that might not have a closed low in it yet, but probably has clouds and some rain.

102	0   0 depression A region of low atmospheric pressure that is usually accompanied by low clouds and precipitation. The term is also sometimes used as a reference to a Tropical Depression.

103	0   0 depression In meteorology, it is another name for an area of low pressure, a low, or trough. It also applies to a stage of tropical cyclone development and is known as a tropical depression to distinguish it from other synoptic features.

104	0   0 depression (geography) An area that is lower in topography than its surroundings. *large * French: (dépression) * Greek: (??????,m) * Hebrew: he|????|f|tr=shfela * Indonesian: (depresi) {{t|ga|ísleacht|f, [..]

105	0   0 depression (economics,or|psychology) depression * »’1923»’, , »», in: Imago: Zeitschrift für Anwendung der Psychoanalyse auf die Geisteswissenschaften, vol. 9, booklet 1, , page 9: *: Er war schwermüti [..]

106	0   0 depression An area of low atmospheric pressure typically characterised by cloudy, rainy, windy and generally unstable weather.

107	0   0 depression Very low mood and loss of interest in life, lasting for more than two weeks. It can cause physical and emotional changes.

108	0   0 depression A cyclical period of serious decline in the national economy, characterized by temporarily decreased levels of business activity across most economic sectors, and consequently by decline in Gross Dome [..]

109	0   0 depression An extended period of depressed economic activity, typically a number of years, and potentially consisting of at least one and maybe two or more recessions, during which one or more of GDP, output, in [..]

110	0   0 depression Depression may refer to:

111	0   0 depression An economic depression is a period of sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is a more severe economic downturn than a recession, which is a slowdown in econom [..]

112	0   0 depression Depression may refer to:

113	0   0 depression Depression is a mental state of low mood and aversion to activity, which affects more than 280 million people of all ages (about 3.5% of the global population). Classified medically as a mental and be [..]

114	0   0 depression In geology, a depression is a landform sunken or depressed below the surrounding area. Depressions form by various mechanisms.

115	0   0 depression In geology, a depression is a landform sunken or depressed below the surrounding area. Depressions form by various mechanisms.

116	0   0 depression In physiology and medicine, depression refers to a lowering, in particular a reduction in a specific biological variable or the functions of an organ. It is the opposite of elevation. For example, it [..]

117	0   0 depression Depression, one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders, is being diagnosed in increasing numbers in various segments of the population worldwide. Depression in the United States alone af [..]

118	0   0 depression Depression is a mental state of low mood and aversion to activity, which affects more than 280 million people of all ages (about 3.5% of the global population). Classified medically as a mental and be [..]

119	0   1 depression An rotating area of low atmospheric pressure. The rotation of the depression  generates circulating winds.

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