What Is Clinical Depression?

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Clinical depression is really a catch-all phrase. Usually it refers to major depression, the most serious type of depression. But those who have dysthymia (chronic depression) also have clinical depression. Even those with bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression) who are in a depressive state have clinical depression.

Major Depression

Most of the time the terms clinical depression and major depression are used interchangeably. For information about major depression, see the section titled Major Depression.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia is chronic clinical depression. It is not as intense as major depression, but it is nonetheless a serious form of clinical depression. For information about dysthymia, see the section titled Dysthymia.

Double Depression

A person with chronic depression who has an episode of major depression is said to have double depression. Dysthymia increases the chance of having an episode of major depression, especially if it goes untreated.

To find books about clinical depression, see the section titled Emporium