Okuzeka
Psychology vocabulary · Mental Health Conditions

Depression

Meaning in psychology, with examples

/dɪˈpreʃən/nounCore term

In psychology, depression means: A mental health condition marked by persistent low mood or loss of interest and pleasure, often with changes in sleep, appetite, energy and concentration.

In Turkish: depresyon, çökkünlük

How it is used

Clinicians usually say depression or major depressive disorder (the DSM-5 name). In everyday English 'I'm depressed' can simply mean sad, so clinical texts add duration and severity: mild, moderate or severe depression.

Example sentences

  1. She was diagnosed with depression after months of low mood and poor sleep.

  2. The trial compared two treatments for moderate depression in adolescents.

Common collocations

  • major depression
  • symptoms of depression
  • be diagnosed with depression
  • postnatal depression
  • moodA general emotional state that lasts longer, is less intense and is less clearly linked to a cause than a single emotion, such as feeling low or irritable for days.
  • anxietyA feeling of worry, tension or fear about something that might happen, often with physical signs such as a fast heartbeat; when intense and lasting, it can be part of a disorder.
  • bipolar disorderA mood disorder in which a person has episodes of mania or hypomania, with very high energy and mood, usually alternating with episodes of depression.
  • cognitive behavioural therapyA structured, time-limited form of psychotherapy that helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that keep their problems going.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Mental Health Conditions

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.