depressive disorder

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Word: Depressive Disorder

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A depressive disorder is a serious mental health condition. It involves feeling very sad, hopeless, or uninterested in life for a long time. This sadness is so strong that it affects a person's ability to do everyday activities, and it often requires help from a doctor or therapist.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "depressive disorder" when talking about a serious condition that affects mood and emotions. It is not just feeling sad for a short time; it is a long-lasting condition that may need medical treatment.

Example Sentence:

• "After feeling sad for several months, Maria decided to see a doctor and was diagnosed with a depressive disorder."

Advanced Usage:

• In a clinical setting, professionals might refer to specific types of depressive disorders, such as "major depressive disorder" or "dysthymia," which is a less severe but more chronic form of depression.

Word Variants:

• Depression (noun): A general term for a state of feeling very sad or hopeless.
• Depressed (adjective): Describing someone who is feeling or showing signs of depression.

Different Meanings:

While "depressive disorder" specifically refers to a clinical condition, the word "depression" can also refer to general feelings of sadness that may not require clinical intervention.

Synonyms:

• Major depressive disorder
• Clinical depression
• Mood disorder

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Down in the dumps": This idiom means feeling sad or depressed, but it does not refer to the clinical condition.
• "Feeling blue": Similar to "down in the dumps," it refers to feeling sad, but again, it is not a clinical term.

Conclusion:

Understanding "depressive disorder" is important because it highlights a serious mental health issue that can affect anyone.

Academic

Noun

1. a state of depression and anhedonia so severe as to require clinical intervention

Synonyms

• clinical depression
• depression