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Breakdown & Clinical Depression

Breakdown or nervous breakdown are unspecific, general terms used to describe symptoms that may, but do not necessarily, result from clinical depression.

  1. Definition

    • According to MayoClinic.com, the term nervous breakdown does not refer to a specific condition and it is not a medical term. Breakdown can be used to describe an inability to function due to a prolonged state of some type of mental turmoil.

    Considerations

    • A 2007 article from the "British Medical Journal" claims that the term "nervous breakdown" is outmoded and belittling.

    Signs

    • Signs of a breakdown may be similar to extreme symptoms of clinical depression. Such symptoms may include crying spells, agitation, loss of interest in pleasurable or social activities, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, inability to focus and suicidal behavior.

    Depression

    • According to MedlinePlus, clinical depression may also be referred to as dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder and unipolar depression. Depression features prolonged periods of sadness that persist to the point that daily functioning is impaired.

    Movement

    • According to a 2007 article in the "American Journal of Psychiatry," those experiencing a depressive episode may also experience a physical "breakdown" in which the movement involved with basic tasks is difficult.

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