n. an inability to express one’s emotions or describe them in words, commonly accompanied by a lack of empathy for the feelings of others. Most often seen in males, it is associated with autistic spectrum disorders (see autism) and also with certain eating disorders.
n. 1. a mental state characterized by excessive sadness. 2. a mood disorder characterized by the pervasive and persistent presence of core and somatic symptoms on most days for at least two weeks. Core symptoms include low mood and loss or impairment of motivation, energy, interest, and enjoyment. Somatic symptoms include impaired memory and concentration, loss of appetite and libido, insomnia, early morning wakening (more than two hours earlier than normal), physical and mental activity that is either agitated and restless or slow and retarded, and a diurnal variation of mood (usually patients feel particularly depressed in the mornings). Additional symptoms include automatic negative thoughts, pessimistic views of oneself, the future, and the present (Beck’s triad of depression), suicidal *ideation, tearfulness, *alexithymia, and a poor frustration tolerance. A single period of experiencing these symptoms is called a major depressive episode; experiencing one or more of such episodes (without mania) is known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression. Depression may or may not be triggered by stressful events or trauma. Risk factors include genetic and social elements (e.g. poverty, lack of confidants, substance abuse) and psychological elements (e.g. the presence of personality disorder, a history of abuse or *dysthymia). Treatment is with *antidepressant drugs, *cognitive behavioural therapy, and/or *psychotherapy. Severe cases may need *electroconvulsive therapy. The course of the illness can be a single episode or recurrent episodes, or it may become chronic. —depressive adj.... depression
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