Does it mean that we will recovery faster if diagnosed with only a mild depression?
Several types
of depression exist. Each is characterized by a specified symptom
presentation. The most common types of depression are major depressive
disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar depression. Major depressive
disorder is given a qualifier of mild, moderate, or severe, depending on
the number of symptoms. In a mild major depression, treatment is
essentially the same as for a moderate to severe depression, but the
response to the treatment may not necessarily be better. Certainly, the
required interventions may not be as intense as those used for a severe
depression (e.g., hospitalization or twice a week or more therapy).
Dysthymic
disorder is also considered a mild type of depression, but its course is
more apt to be chronic; thus, recovery may be more difficult than for
someone who has a discrete episode of major depression. In particular,
some individuals with dysthymia have a major depressive episode as well
(called "double depression"), which may complicate the treatment.
Although
dysthymia is not associated with the same degree of morbidity and
mortality as major depression, it does cause functional impairment and
thus affects a person's well-being. Dysthymic disorder is generally
treated the same as a major depression, but again, treatment
interventions may not need to be as intense, depending on the level of
functional impairment. For example, hospitalization is not likely
necessary for dysthymic disorder. In terms of time to recovery, it
typically takes 4 to 6 weeks for depression to go into remission once
medication therapy is initiated. It may take longer if psychotherapy is
the only intervention. The type of depression present does not signify
the likelihood of response to treatment, although it may inform as to
prognosis. For example, bipolar depression may require longer maintenance
treatment than one episode of major depression.
