The difference between a depressive episode and depression

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on June 18, 2025
00:00
00:00

Depressive episodes and depression refer to the same condition; depressive episodes are also known as depression. Especially clinically, when patients experience depressive episodes, they mainly exhibit low mood, slow thinking, lack of interest and pleasure, diminished will and activity, overall subdued emotional state, sluggish and blank brain responses, lack of interest in daily life, and importantly, an inability to feel pleasure or control. Patients often feel passive, lethargic, and lack anticipation for future life. They typically experience decreased appetite, sleep disturbances, reduced sexual function, and fatigue. Patients frequently describe themselves as incapable, useless, incompetent, and hopeless, leading to low self-esteem and self-blame significantly contributes to their issues. They also feel like a burden to society, and thus, severe cases may include suicidal thoughts and behaviors, which are relatively common symptoms in clinical settings.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
50sec home-news-image

Is depression contagious?

Depression is not contagious, but there is a certain genetic predisposition to it. Clinically, depression is closely related to genetic, environmental, physiological, and psychological factors. For families with a history of depression, their offspring are 4-8 times more likely to suffer from depression than the general population. However, this does not mean depression is a hereditary disease. Interaction with individuals suffering from depression may influence others negatively, including feelings of sadness, self-blame, or despair. Nevertheless, depression cannot be transmitted to others. Through systematic and standardized treatment, particularly with the use of new antidepressant medications, depression can be effectively managed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
48sec home-news-image

Is mild depression normal?

Patients with mild depression, although also experiencing symptoms such as low mood, decreased interest, reduced motivation, slow thinking, and reduced volition, may have difficulty falling asleep and frequently wake up during sleep, among other related symptoms. However, patients often retain most of their social functions, causing some disturbance to daily life and work. Through self-adjustment, standardized psychotherapy, and medication, patients often achieve good treatment outcomes. Sometimes, the symptoms of some patients are relatively mild, and they may appear normal outwardly, but their inner experience is indeed pathological. Therefore, it is still necessary to undertake standardized, systematic, and scientific treatment to achieve clinical recovery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
51sec home-news-image

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a psychological disorder affecting emotions, psychology, and the body, caused by a decline in physical constitution and poor mental state due to societal perspectives and excessive stress after childbirth. Mothers may experience anxiety, sadness, emotional indifference, weakness, a tendency to cry easily, and a loss of confidence and interest in life. These symptoms generally persist throughout the entire postpartum period. Mild cases of postpartum depression can be alleviated through daily life adjustments. More severe cases, however, require treatment at a formal medical institution, and it is crucial for family members to pay attention to psychological communication with the patient.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
1min 16sec home-news-image

Can mild depression cause dizziness?

Patients with mild depression may also experience symptoms of dizziness. These patients often come to see a doctor primarily for physical symptoms, manifesting discomforts such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, palpitations, chest tightness, heart palpitations, vomiting, sweating, and difficulty breathing, among other related symptoms. These are also symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, which are relatively common. Thus, the emotional and cognitive symptoms in these patients are often mild, while the physical symptoms are comparatively severe. Particularly, disturbances in sleep, fatigue, and diminished appetite are amongst the more prominently severe symptoms. When patients seek medical help, they often present with the aforementioned symptoms as their main complaints, and if not carefully questioned, misdiagnosis can easily occur. Therefore, for physical symptoms of depression, it is important to observe carefully as the physical manifestations are closely related to emotional changes. Attention should be given to observe and administer antidepressant therapy, which can achieve good therapeutic effects.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
55sec home-news-image

What is depression?

Depression, clinically referred to as depressive disorder, is a type of mood disorder. Its primary manifestations are persistent and significant low mood, reduced volition, and slow thinking. It is accompanied by sleep disturbances, eating disorders, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt and self-blame. Patients do not feel pleasure or interest, sometimes feel excessively guilty, and even find life meaningless, leading to thoughts and behaviors of suicide. In severe cases, depression may also present with psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. If these symptoms occur daily, are present most of the time, and persist for more than two weeks, significantly affecting work, study, daily life, social interactions, and family functions, then it can be diagnosed as depression. This describes the relevant clinical aspects of depression.