Double depression occurs when a person with dysthymia develops major depression, situations in which dissatisfaction, despair and tiredness of the first condition can intensify and reach a much darker and more disabling psychological state.
This is a reality of increasingly frequent clinical practice.
- It is quite possible that not everyone has heard of this type of pathology.
- However.
- Double depression is the subject of constant studies for a very obvious reason: in the last 10 years.
- The number of patients (including adolescents) who have gone from persistent has increased depressive disorder (dysthymia) to major depression.
For example, studies such as that conducted by the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA. Usa, and published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research indicate that everything is at the root of the chronicity of dysthymia itself.
There are people who have lived for years immersed in a reality marked by low motivation, constant sadness, tiredness and discouragement, so sooner or later, a fact is assumed: that the person has completely lost control of his own life.
When this kind of thought occurs and the resulting vulnerability, this mild depression becomes a major depression, at that time anhedonia, feelings of guilt and suicidal thoughts appear.
These are, as we see, very complex situations in which specialists face a great challenge: treating symptoms, understanding the causes and deciding the best treatments for the specific needs of each patient, of which we will review more information below.
“For the most part, it was you who built your depression. They didn’t give you that. So you’re the one who can destroy it?-Albert Ellis-
Double depression is already known to occur as a result of a serious complication of persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), however, it should be noted that although the term appeared in the 1980s, just 10 years ago, it has begun to become clearer and clearer better. defined more precisely.
In fact, in the new edition of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), it already appears with some distinctive features.
These changes, the moment we go from despair to the idea of ”disappearing”, constitute what is called double depression.
A 2013 study from Boston University in the United States, published in the journal Molecular Pharmacology, found that 10% of the population suffers from dysthymia and that of these people, nearly 75% are at risk of developing double depression. occur are usually:
Experts say something that can draw our attention: it’s easier to treat depression greater than dysthymia, so, as we’ve been able to infer, the secret is in the response to persistent depressive disorder itself to prevent it from leading to a major depressive disorder. Depression.
Therefore, once double depression is diagnosed, it is necessary to practice the following strategies:
Last but not least, we must be able to seek professional support as long as we feel this chronic lack of hope that does not seem to be far from us.
Living in this state, in this recurrent and sticky dysthymia, leaves us on the verge of a really dangerous abyss, so let’s avoid that. Let’s ask for professional help!