Is Depression A Permanent State? Depression Symptoms And Treatment

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 5% of adults experience depression. More than just sadness or low self-esteem, depression is a mental illness that can significantly affect a person’s mental health and overall well-being and typically requires professional treatment. 

Is depression a permanent state?

The potential intensity of depression symptoms can lead some people to ask, “Is depression a permanent state?” Below, we’ll discuss what depression is, common symptoms, evidence-based treatments, and whether depression is permanent. 

What is depression?

There are several types of depression listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These include persistent depressive disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, seasonal affective disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and substance/medication-induced depressive disorder.

Each one is a serious diagnosable mental illness that can affect mood, behavior, physical health, and mental health. Depression can impact anyone of any age, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, and symptoms can affect people in different ways. 

Major depression symptoms

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common types of depression, so much so that it’s sometimes referred to as clinical depression. For a person to be diagnosed with this disorder, they typically have to meet at least five of the following nine DSM-5 criteria during a two-week period, with at least one symptom being depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure:

Major depression symptoms

1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). (Note: In children and adolescents, can be an irritable mood.)

2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation)

3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. (Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gain.)

4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day

5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)

6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)

8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)

9. Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide”

The DSM-5 goes on to say that, for a person to be diagnosed with major depression, symptoms must lead to significant distress or impairment in occupational, social, or other types of functioning. Also, the symptoms must not be due to the use of a substance or another health condition. 

A clinician also typically has to ensure that the symptoms are not better explained by a schizoaffective disorder or other psychotic disorder and that the person has never had a manic or hypomanic episode, which are typical symptoms of a type of bipolar disorder. If a person meets all of the above criteria, they may be diagnosed as having a major depressive episode.

Is major depressive disorder permanent?

The DSM-5 includes several specifiers for clinicians to consider when diagnosing or evaluating depression, including “in partial remission” and “in full remission.” This means that depression often isn’t permanent.

What sets persistent depressive disorder apart from major depressive disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “persistent depressive disorder (formerly dysthymic disorder) is characterized by chronic low-level depression that is not as severe, but may be longer lasting than major depressive disorder.” To be diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder, a person typically must have had depression symptoms for at least two years, more days than not. Another criterion is that individuals must not have had a period without persistent depressive disorder symptoms lasting longer than two weeks during those two years. 

Is persistent depressive disorder permanent?

Although persistent depressive disorder tends to last longer than major depression, it doesn’t have to be permanent. Many people recover with professional treatment, while others may be able to effectively manage their symptoms with treatment for as long as they persist. Also, the criteria also include the specifiers “in partial remission” and “in full remission,” which indicate that persistent depressive disorder isn’t always a permanent state. 

Can other forms of depression be cured, or are they lifelong conditions?

Other forms of depression are also often not permanent. For example, seasonal affective disorder typically affects individuals only in the winter. Regardless of the type of depression, there are typically treatments that can help a person manage symptoms and possibly prevent future episodes. 

Mental health treatment for depression symptoms

Treatment for depression can be highly effective. Research suggests that 80% to 90% of people living with depression eventually respond well to treatment. The following are some treatments that may help relieve depression symptoms. Speak to your doctor or therapist about what approach might be right for you.

Medication treatment

Some people living with depression may be prescribed medication for depression—often selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), though other types may also be considered by your provider. These medications can only be prescribed by a medical doctor and are usually meant to be taken in combination with therapy. It’s recommended that individuals not start, stop, or change medication without a doctor’s approval. 

Psychotherapy treatment

The first-line treatment for depression is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. According to the American Psychological Association, many therapists use an approach called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat depression, which aims to help people identify and replace inaccurate thoughts about themselves. Other therapists may use interpersonal therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, supportive therapy, or psychodynamic therapy for individuals living with depression.  

Online therapy for depression and other mental health challenges

Some people living with depression may find it difficult to leave home to attend in-person therapy appointments, so online therapy may be more comfortable or convenient in such cases. Online therapy platforms allow you to communicate with a licensed mental health professional via audio, video, or live chat from home or anywhere else you have an internet connection. 

With online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp, individuals can also reach out to their therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and their therapist will respond as soon as they can. People living with depression or other conditions may find this helpful if they experience symptoms between therapy sessions. 

Is online therapy effective for symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders? 

A number of studies have suggested that online therapy can be effective for treating depression in many cases. One study, for instance, indicates that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be effective for treating depression and other mental health disorders—including generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, which may be comorbid with depression in some people.