Other types of depression

Post-natal depression

Postnatal depressive disorder may be one of three types:

“Maternity blues” - occurs in 50% of mothers shortly after birth but resolves spontaneously within a few days.

Post-natal psychosis. A few women develop a severe psychotic depressive illness, which usually lasts for several weeks and requires hospital treatment.

Post-natal depression of mild or moderate severity occurs in 10% of women. There may be marked phobic symptoms. Most women recover within 2 to 6 months.

Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD]

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depressive illness in which there is a regular relationship between the onset of depressive episodes and a particular time or season of the year. Depressive illness usually starts in the autumn or winter and ends as daylight hours increase in the spring or summer.

During depressive episodes peoples with SAD frequently exhibit an increase in appetite and weight, excessive sleepiness and a tendency to be most depressed later in the day.