Psychology
ADHD in adults: signs, assessment and treatment
Adult ADHD is real, under-diagnosed in women, and over-claimed online. How it looks, how to get assessed, what treatment does, and why study pills are a bad bet.
27 Sept 20267 min read
Depression
Also known as Clinical depression, Major depressive disorder, Depressive disorder, MDD
A medical condition in which low mood or loss of interest lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and affects sleep, energy and daily life.
Depression is more than sadness. Udaasi after a loss or a bad week is a normal mood that lifts. Depression persists for at least two weeks, most of the day, and makes ordinary life hard to manage.
Core features
- Persistent low, empty or hopeless mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure ()
- Poor sleep or sleeping too much, tiredness, appetite change
- Poor concentration, guilt or feeling worthless
- Thoughts of death or suicide
For milder depression, talking therapy such as or comes first; for moderate to severe depression, therapy is often combined with an antidepressant such as an , which takes two to six weeks to work and should never be stopped suddenly. Read the full article on depression.
Where this comes up
Psychology
Anger: when it becomes a problem and how to manage it
Anger is a normal emotion. It becomes a problem when it is frequent, intense or harmful — and venting it tends to make it worse, not better.
27 Sept 20269 min read
Psychology
Autism: early signs, diagnosis and support
Early signs of autism by age, the difference between a late talker and an autistic child, how diagnosis works, what support helps — and the 'cures' that harm.
27 Sept 202610 min read
Psychology
Bipolar disorder: highs, lows and staying well
Bipolar disorder causes episodes of depression and of mania or hypomania. With the right medicine, a steady routine and a relapse plan, most people live full lives.
27 Sept 20269 min read
Related terms
- AnhedoniaLoss of interest, Loss of pleasureLoss of interest in, or pleasure from, things a person used to enjoy — food, company, hobbies, intimacy. It is one of the two core symptoms of depression.
- Suicidal ideationSuicidal thoughts, Suicidal feelingsThoughts about ending one's life, from a passing wish not to wake up to active plans. They are a sign of severe distress, not weakness, and with help they can pass.
- Behavioural activationBA, Behavioral activationA structured therapy for depression that gets you back into rewarding and meaningful activities in small, planned steps, rather than waiting until you feel like it.
- SSRISelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRIsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor: the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant, used for depression and many anxiety conditions. Examples are sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, citalopram and paroxetine.
- Anxiety disorderAnxiety disorders, AnxietyWorry or fear that is stronger than the situation calls for, lasts for weeks or months, and gets in the way of daily life. Anxiety disorders are common and treatable.