The Difference Between Depression and Clinical Depression
Disease description:
After giving birth, my wife has been feeling increasingly irritable and tearful over the past few days. I looked it up online and suspected postpartum depression; however, after a medical evaluation, she was diagnosed with “depression” rather than “depressive disorder.” Could you please clarify the difference between “depression” and “depressive disorder”?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Mingxuan
Depression and major depressive disorder (MDD) are distinct. Depression refers to a transient negative emotional state that typically eases over time; engaging in appropriate outdoor physical activity can help relax the mind and body, leading to effective improvement. In contrast, major depressive disorder is a common, serious mental illness characterized by persistent low mood. Affected individuals may develop suicidal ideation—especially when influenced by external stressors—and usually require strict adherence to physician-prescribed antidepressant medication and professional psychological counseling for recovery.
