Why is depression considered a mental illness?

Depressive disorder, frequently referred to simply as depression, is more than just feeling sad or going through a rough patch. It's a serious mental health condition that requires understanding and medical care. Left untreated, depression can be devastating for those who have it and their families. read more

A Clinical Depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is considered a Psychiatric disorder, often also called a mental illness, because its primary symptoms affected the mind and emotions when it was first recognized in antiquity. read more

Feelings of emptiness and sadness may be a symptom of the disorder, but schizophrenia and depression are different on a neurobiological level. About half of people with schizophrenia may develop a major depressive episode at some point in their lives, but depression is not considered an enduring or hallmark feature of schizophrenia. read more