| Depressive Disorder | Description | Annual Prevalence |
|---|
| Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder | Persistent irritability that typically results in “temper outbursts” and “angry mood that is present between the severe temper outbursts”. | 2–5% in children |
| Major depressive disorder | Feeling depressed (sad, empty, hopeless) almost every day for 2 weeks, or “a loss of interest or pleasure in” almost all activities. | 7% in ages 18–29 and then 3 times higher in age 60 and older |
| Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) | Feeling depressed the majority of the time: at least 2 years in adults and 1 year in children and adolescents. | 0.05% |
| Premenstrual dysphoric disorder | Feeling irritable, low, or anxious during the premenstrual phase of one’s cycle, a condition that resolves itself during menses or shortly thereafter. | 1.8–5.8% of menstruating women |
| As you can see from these descriptions, the word depression can mean many things. Some of these depressive disorders are rare, whereas others are more common. |
| SOURCE: DSM–5 (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION, 2013). |