major depressive disorder
noun
: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal tendencies : clinical depression, major depression
About 18 million Americans are diagnosed with a major depressive disorder each year.—
David Schwab
David SchwabThe most serious form of depression is major depressive disorder, characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, changes in appetite, increased or decreased sleep, increased or decreased motor activity, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating and, for some people, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.—Sandi Lloyd
—abbreviation MDD
Sandi LloydExamples of major depressive disorder in a Sentence
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The research, published Dec. 30 in JAMA Network Open, found an association between driving behaviors like hard braking and speeding in participants aged 65 and older and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), a mood condition that can cause extreme sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 9 Jan. 2025
May Improve Depression Repeatedly in scientific literature, deficiencies in many key micronutrients, including zinc and magnesium, have been linked to major depressive disorder (MDD).
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 3 Jan. 2025
Membership is voluntary and open to adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 17 Dec. 2024
In the other 49 states, long-term disability benefit claims for physical ailments — cancer, arthritis, stroke — are assessed differently than mental health issues — major depressive disorder, anxiety, PTSD and eating disorders.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
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Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 9 Jan. 2025
May Improve Depression Repeatedly in scientific literature, deficiencies in many key micronutrients, including zinc and magnesium, have been linked to major depressive disorder (MDD).
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 3 Jan. 2025
Membership is voluntary and open to adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 17 Dec. 2024
In the other 49 states, long-term disability benefit claims for physical ailments — cancer, arthritis, stroke — are assessed differently than mental health issues — major depressive disorder, anxiety, PTSD and eating disorders.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for major depressive disorder
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Cite this Entry
“Major depressive disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20depressive%20disorder. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
major depressive disorder
noun
: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal tendencies : clinical depression, major depression
The diagnosis of both major depressive disorder and subsyndromal symptoms is complicated by difficulties that elderly patients may have in recognizing or describing depressive symptoms.—Lawrence M. Martin et al., The John Hopkins White Papers
—abbreviation MDD
Lawrence M. Martin et al., The John Hopkins White PapersLove words? Need even more definitions?
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