[SilentLove]

My SO is for sure suffering from depression but how can you tell what kind? I want to know more. So I can maybe keep a log, or record. Keep an eye on it write it down for the Drs.

So that maybe we can come to a resolution and finding the right treatment for him available.

[Direction]

Welcome to PC...

I think only a professional can determine an exact diagnosis (dx); although, you will find lots of information here...symptoms, etc...

I'd be careful about the log unless SO is in agreement...and I would take a guess that SO would not be interested in someone logging things...don't you think?

Right treatment...find out if he would like to see someone professionally...and of course anything life threating goes to the ER...

[salukigirl]

there are so many different kinds depending on symptoms that you cant tell without having a psychological evalutaion. i knew i was depressed but when i had my evaluation done they slapped me with about 5 different things. OCD, clinical depression, dysthymia (which is basically just depression lasting longer than 2 years), borderline personality disorder and something else. maybe PTSD? i dont remember, this was a few years ago.

good luck.

a-typical vs typical is one of the major distinctions in depression. a-typical involves sleeping lots and eating lots. typical involves not being able to sleep and not wanting to eat. typical has better outcomes with anti-depressants than a-typical - though the majority of people with depression have a-typical.

other distinctions have to do with the severity (intensity) and the time that the depression has been around for.

dysthymia is regarded as 'low grade' depression - not because sufferers say that it is 'low grade' - but because from an objective point of view people with dysthymia are fairly functional. this seems to be something along the lines of a depressive personality / character trait.

depression (rather than dysthymia) is more of an episodic thing rather than a character / personality thing. you can have 'brief adjustment disorder' when your depressive episode is in response to an environmental stressor. that can progress to a depressive episode if it lasts longer... and a major depressive episode if he lasts even longer...

the treatments are fairly much the same. though typical depression responds better than the other varieties to anti-depressants. therapy tends to help all round...