How Is Psychotic Depression Different From Just Depression?

How Is Psychotic Depression Different From Just Depression?

– In the past, our channel has made videos regarding depression and
how it may affect you. Today we’ll be talking about
some of the differences between depression and
one of its subtypes, psychotic depression disorder. Before we continue, it’s important that we clarify some of the terminology. Doing so will help us better
fully understand depression. According to the American
Psychological Association, depression is a negative emotional state that ranges from unhappiness and discontent to extreme
feelings of sadness, melancholia, pessimism, and despondency. These feelings are disruptive and often interfere with everyday life. Somatic, cognitive and social changes tend to co-occur during a depressive episode. Some of those changes include but are not limited to,
changes in sleeping habits, appetite changes, lack of energy or motivation, difficulty
focusing or making choices and withdrawal from social settings. This is the kind of depression
most of us are familiar with, whether we’ve observed it
in others or in ourselves. This is where most depressive
disorders fall under. Think of depressive
disorders as a tiny umbrella underneath the much larger
umbrella of depression. Depressive disorders
refer to any mood disorder that typically has sadness
as a predominant symptom. So some disorders that fall
under a depressive disorder are clinical depression, also
known as major depression, persistent depressive disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, seasonal affective disorder,
postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, mania, and hypomania. Within the subtype of
major depression exists. Psychotic depression,
psychologist Anthony D. Smith, outlines the symptoms that
characterize major depression, which are depressed. Mood, sleep changes,
suicidal thoughts, feelings of worthlessness among many others. Common characteristics are
depressed, mood anhedonia, lack of interest in previously enjoyed
activities, sleep changes, appetite changes, fatigue, hyper or hypo activity, suicidal
thoughts, attempts, lack of focus, feelings of
guilt or worthlessness. So where does psychotic depression fit in? In the case of psychotic depression, it’s more than just a depressed mood and accompanying symptoms. Psychotic depression is a
form of major depression where people may also
experience psychosis. Per the American Psychological
Association’s definition. Psychosis is an abnormal mental state that makes it difficult
to identify reality. It can cause serious impairments
in fundamental higher brain functions such as perception, cognition, cognitive processing,
and emotional effect. These disruptions manifest
in delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech. Jessica shared her experience with psychosis on Rethink
Mental illnesses blog. – She described her psychotic episodes as being disconnected from reality. Although her experience is not specific to psychotic depression, it
does help us understand a little what psychotic depression may feel like. It’s important for us to know that psychosis alone is not an illness. It’s merely a symptom. According
to license social worker, Theresa Ian of Mental Health
America, approximately 3% of the population experiences psychosis. Additionally, studies
compiled by the NIH estimate that anywhere between 10 to 100 people out of 100,000 develop psychosis each year. Psychotic episodes usually
present behavioral warnings such as paranoia, uneasiness around
others, trouble thinking, clearly, unusual or overly intense ideas, lack of feelings, decline in self-care or personal hygiene, sleep disruptions, difficulty separating reality and fantasy and confused speech and
trouble communicating. There are no specific
factors that cause psychosis. It’s a mix of genetic factors, differences in brain development, and exposure to stressors or trauma. As we mentioned before,
psychosis is a symptom that helps doctors diagnose
mental illnesses like schizophrenia and conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. One thing that we need to point
out is the key differences between psychotic depression
and schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia
believe their hallucinations or delusions are real, whereas people with psychotic depression know that their hallucinations are not real. Individuals who suffer from
psychotic depression may experience agitation, which
manifests in not being able to sit still or excessive fidgeting. This is sometimes called
psychomotor agitation. The other extreme of this
is psychomotor retardation, where they experience
everything in slow motion, both thoughts and physical movements. Other symptoms include
persistently feeling worried or on edge, falsely
believing you have sickness, poor concentration, and
difficulty sleeping. Dr. Anthony j Rothschild of the University of Massachusetts Medical
School in Warchester said The suicide rate in people with psychotic depression
when they fall ill and are in their acute
phase is much higher than it is with major depression. So if you notice out of
character changes in yourself, reach out to a licensed professional who can help you assess your symptoms, provide proper diagnosis and treatment. What causes psychotic depression? There is no definite cause
for psychotic depression. However, like most other subtypes,
it’s onset by a stressful or traumatic event such as a
grief divorce, serious illness, or financial worries. Some psychologists believe that genetics can also play a role. How can you treat psychotic depression? There are many treatment options
for psychotic depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy
has proven effective in treating many depressive disorders. There’s also the option
to take medication. Make sure to consult with
a licensed professional for a proper medication treatment plan. However, one of the most important – Can be support along with
the other treatment options. Offering support and
empathy can make the world of difference to anyone
going through depression. Depression can be a difficult monster to challenge on your own. It can be confusing, overwhelming, and taxing, but you’re not alone. Although it may be hard, please reach out to someone you trust. It can be scary to talk about
something you don’t really know how to explain, but just talking to someone
may lighten your burden. If someone you know suffers
from depression, reach out to them with empathy and genuine care. Let them know that with you. They have a judgment-free space to discuss their thoughts and feelings. If you’re concerned that
they may harm themselves or notice them acting
differently, reach out to their guardian social worker or someone who can offer
them the help that they need. We hope you’ve learned
more about psychotic depression from this video. Take care of yourself and
take care of those around you. Don’t forget to like. Comment below and subscribe to our channel. Thanks so much for watching.

What sets psychotic depression apart from clinical depression? In this video, we dive deep into the distinct characteristics of psychotic depression, exploring how it differs from standard depression.

We created this video to help raise awareness and understanding of psychotic depression, a condition that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. By distinguishing it from typical depression, we aim to provide better insights and support for those affected by this challenging mental health issue.

So, understanding the nuances of psychotic depression can make a significant difference in diagnosis and treatment. Watch this video to learn more about this complex condition and how it differs from regular depression.

Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only and should not be used to self-diagnose or replace professional medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please consult a healthcare professional.

#depression #mentalhealth #mentalillness

Writer: Sara Del Villar
Editor: Michal Mitchell
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
Voice Over: Amanda Silvera (http://www.youtube.com/amandasilvera )
Animator: Anilezah
Youtube Manager: Cindy Cheong

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