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
The 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

Examples of major depressive disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Small clinical trials have shown that one or two doses of psilocybin can make dramatic and long-lasting changes in people who have treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, which typically does not respond to traditional antidepressants. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 17 July 2024 Almost 60 percent of the patients had their symptom load cut in half, and there was at least 30 percent remission from major depressive disorder. Gary Stix, Scientific American, 3 July 2024 On Thursday, a San Mateo Superior Court judge determined Patel was eligible for mental health diversion due to his major depressive disorder and can live with his parents during his treatment. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024 Health Low-carb diets cause depression A new study concludes that eating more carbohydrates reduces a person’s risk of major depressive disorder. Big Think, 24 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for major depressive disorder 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'major depressive disorder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of major depressive disorder was in 1977

Dictionary Entries Near major depressive disorder

Cite this Entry

“Major depressive disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20depressive%20disorder. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.

Medical 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!