A member asked:

Is clinical depression and major depressive disorder the same?

20 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

Yes: The official name is "major depressive disorder", but many people say "clinical depression" as a sort of shorthand for that. This is depression > 2 wks, severe enough to interfere with everyday life, and accompanied by changes in sleep, energy, appetite, ability to experience pleasure, suicidal ideas, and so forth. Many depressed moods are not severe enough to count as "clinical".

Answered 2/25/2017

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Dr. Alan Ali answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Depression: They are one & the same. Another term is unipolar depression.

Answered 10/3/2016

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Yes: Although i believe the definition to be somewhat too narrow, nimh and others see the terms a synonymous, clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for a period of two weeks or more.

Answered 12/9/2013

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Please tell me, could a chronic disease cause clinical depression?

A doctor has provided 1 answer