The Lawson Clinic, Sydney, argues that there are various expressions of
depression. It is important to make a distinction between the three principal classes of
depression -
psychotic depression, melancholic depression and non-melancholic depression. Such classifications disallow the 'non-specificity' model, with psychotic depression and melancholic depression responding to quite differing treatment approaches. Recommendations for managing the
non-melancholic depression disorders are less clear as it is not a pure class and, as notes, published studies suggest rather similar levels of success across quite sharply contrasting treatment approaches. This unsatisfactory finding reflects conceptualization and measurement according to a dimensional depression model (of depressed mood severity, depression persistence, and depression recurrence), rather than acknowledging that non-melancholic depression may better be seen as a evidence of the painful impact between life stress and the individual's personality and temperament. The management of non-melancholic
depressionmight therefore be advanced by developing a specific model that identifies and favours certain
depression treatments above others for each of the major personality dimensions. People with
bipolar disorder get both depressions and highs known as manic or hypomanic episodes. The lows are almost always of the
melancholic subtype of depression. During the high, the individual feels terrific and is very confident. Talk is increased and is so much faster than usual that others seem unable to keep up. People with depression or
bipolar disorder should be assessed by a
psychiatrist.
For further
depression or
bipolar disorder information, or to find a good
Sydney psychiatrist please check out:
Depression Bipolar disorder Psychiatrist - Sydney Black Dog Institute Model of Depression
