• Mental Health
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • OCD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • ADHD
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
  • Mental Health
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • OCD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • ADHD
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
Skip to content

Unipolar Depression: Definition, Symptoms, & Treatment

Published: February 16, 2023
Published: 02/16/2023
Headshot of Dianne Grande, Ph.D.
Written by:

Dianne Grande

Ph.D.
Dr. Maria Simbra, MD, MPH
Reviewed by:

Dr. Maria Simbra

MD, MPD
  • What Is Depression?Depression
  • What Is Unipolar Depression?Unipolar Depression
  • MDD vs. Other Types of Unipolar DepressionMDD
  • Unipolar Depression SymptomsSymptoms
  • Causes of Unipolar DepressionCauses
  • When to Seek Professional Help for Unipolar DepressionGet Help
  • Unipolar Depression TreatmentsTreatments
  • Final Thoughts on Unipolar DepressionConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Unipolar Depression InfographicsInfographics
Headshot of Dianne Grande, Ph.D.
Written by:

Dianne Grande

Ph.D.
Dr. Maria Simbra, MD, MPH
Reviewed by:

Dr. Maria Simbra

MD, MPD

Unipolar Depression is a severe form of depression characterized by sadness and/or irritability that affects sleep, energy level, and either weight gain or loss. It is one of the most common mental health problems, affecting roughly 8% of adults in the US each year.1 Evidence-based treatments for this disorder include psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.

You don’t have to face depression alone. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

What Is Depression?

Depression is a disorder that can cause sadness and influence someone’s energy, motivation, level of irritability, and general well-being. The many different types of depressive disorders differ in symptoms, frequency, intensity, duration, and triggers.

What Is Unipolar Depression?

Unipolar depression is a type of depression, but not a specific disorder. It can sometimes take the form of major depressive disorder (MDD) or clinical depression. The low mood that occurs with MDD will last most of the day and present more days than not for at least two continuous weeks.

If a person doesn’t experience a low mood with unipolar depression, they might report a marked loss of interest or pleasure in any of their normal daily activities instead. The negative emotions and low energy usually impair daily functioning at work (i.e., work depression) and home.

Unipolar Depression vs. Bipolar Depression

In contrast to bipolar disorder depression, someone with unipolar depression doesn’t experience any periods of mania. Such mood swings toward highs (mania) and lows (depression), along with periods of hypomania, are signs of a bipolar depression. The focus of the experience for those with unipolar depression is the low mood with negative thoughts and feelings. For example, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt might be a daily occurrence.

MDD vs. Other Types of Unipolar Depression

Unipolar depression is a broad category. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a distinct clinical condition with specific symptoms and history but there are other types of unipolar depression, too. Other forms of depression are defined as unipolar in that they lack manic episodes, but they are different from MDD.2,3 Each unipolar type of depression is characterized by its specific circumstances, considering the history, intensity, or duration of symptoms experienced by the person.

  • Postpartum depression: Unipolar and occurs after the birth of a baby
  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Unipolar that typically occurs during the winter months
  • Persistent depressive disorder (PDD): A less severe, long-term form of unipolar depression

Unipolar Depression Symptoms

Unipolar depression is a type of depression, not a specific disorder. Numerous symptoms are common in the various forms of unipolar depression. Depression symptoms might include negative feelings, changes in energy level, and changes in self-talk. The following is a list of the possible range of depression symptoms that is not for the purpose of identifying any particular depressive disorder.

Symptoms of a unipolar depression might include:3

  • Feelings of persistent sadness, low mood, or increased irritability
  • Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that someone previously enjoyed
  • Change in appetite, with either a gain or loss in weight
  • Feelings of fatigue or low energy
  • Changes in sleep, with insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
  • Slowing down of movement or speech
  • Feeling restless or agitated
  • Negative self-talk, related to feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
  • Feelings of hopelessness about the future
  • Thoughts of self-harm, death, or suicidal ideation

Causes of Unipolar Depression

Depression can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Brain chemistry, medication use, hormones, and difficult life stressors like losing a job or relationship difficulties can all be risk factors for depression.

Biological

Biological causes of depression are varied and include genetics, hormonal changes, neurotransmitter levels, certain physical illnesses, and medications. While depression has a genetic component, it is essential to look at all the different factors and not at genes alone.

Biological causes of depression include:

  • Lower levels of brain chemicals: such as the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which affect mood2
  • Physical differences in the structure of the brain: such as a smaller hippocampus, resulting in fewer serotonin receptors4
  • Hormonal changes: such as those that occur with thyroid disorders, pregnancy, and menopause
  • Certain medications: including those used to treat acne, some antiviral drugs, corticosteroids, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines4
  • Health conditions: including chronic pain and some forms of cancer

Genetic

Genetic factors account for about 40% of the causes of depression.5 Genetic causes of depression identified through research have indicated that there is not a specific gene that causes depression but numerous pieces of genetic code.6 Even when a person has a genetic predisposition toward clinical depression, they would not necessarily become depressed based on their genetics alone.

Their other biological factors and environmental triggers would influence whether or not their genetics would lead to unipolar depression.

Environmental

Environmental causes of depression are now better thought of as triggers for a genetic response. If a person has a genetic risk for depression, specific environmental stressors might trigger an episode of unipolar depression. Alternatively, even without genetic risk, an episode of depression can still be caused by increased environmental stressors.

Environmental causes of unipolar depression can include:5

  • Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse (past or present)
  • Violent or traumatic events, including serious accidents
  • Death of a loved one
  • Depression after divorce or separation
  • Financial hardship
  • Depression after job loss
  • Social isolation
  • Relationship conflict at home or at work
  • Major life transitions, such as moving to a new home
  • Lifestyle habits such as abuse of alcohol or other drugs

When to Seek Professional Help for Unipolar Depression

Occasional periods of low mood are relatively standard experiences for most people. However, there are some signs that one’s low mood is beyond the norm and may require professional help to resolve.

It is essential to ask yourself if your day-to-day functioning is affected by any of the following:

  • If the feelings of sadness or irritability are intense, or if they do not go away within a couple of weeks7
  • Low mood or irritability has made it challenging to complete daily obligations at work, home, or school
  • If you begin to have no interest in what you usually enjoy doing
  • If there are thoughts of self-harm or suicide, which is a vital sign to seek professional help immediately

Help For Depression

Talk Therapy – Get help from a licensed therapist. Betterhelp offers online therapy starting at $60 per week. Get matched With A Therapist


Virtual Psychiatry – Get help from a real doctor that takes your insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and online visits with expert psychiatrists. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment in days. Free Assessment

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp and Talkiatry.

Unipolar Depression Treatments

While the frontline treatment for unipolar depression is psychotherapy, other effective treatment pairings include medication, brain stimulation, and lifestyle changes. Each person’s treatment plan for unipolar depression will be unique, based upon their specific cluster of symptoms and personal health concerns.

Mental health professionals work with the individual to design the best treatment plan for them. Although there are a variety of depression treatments, the most commonly used treatments are therapy and medication.

Psychotherapy vs. Medication

When it comes to psychotherapy vs. medication, it can help to talk about them in terms of short and long-term intervention. In the short term, therapy helps by reducing the intensity and frequency of symptoms currently experienced. By working with their therapist, the person learns to recognize both patterns of thought and behavior that have led them toward a worsening depressed mood.

Once a therapist can identify these patterns or triggers, the individual can manage them in new ways to prevent a worsening downward spiral. Psychotherapy also helps prevent future clinical depression by creating new habits of thought and behavior that the person can maintain over their lifetime.

Psychotherapy is an effective way to treat depression for both short-term results and long-term prevention. Therapy can be effective alone but, in some circumstances, may need to be paired with medication to relieve severe symptoms.

Therapy for Unipolar Depression

Various psychotherapies are presently seen as best practices to treat depression, allowing patients to find the right fit. Each method begins with the therapist and client meeting to discuss the current problems or symptoms and develop a plan to address them. Each type of depression therapy will differ in the length of time for treatment, focus on the past vs. present, and how much structure they offer.

CBT for depression involves acknowledging and changing someone’s thoughts, behaviors, and actions to remedy mental health concerns. It ‘s the most evidence-based practice, with hundreds of outcome studies supporting its effectiveness for anxiety and depression symptoms. A review of outcome studies published by the NIH indicates that CBT is particularly effective in treating acute episodes of unipolar depression.8

EMDR for depression involves working with the body’s existing healing networks to help the nervous system find, resolve, and become unstuck from its emergency responses. It has less extensive research to date; however, one study indicated a significant reduction in symptoms of unipolar depression after 6 to 8 sessions of EMDR.9

Regardless of the therapy used, it is always best to begin therapy as early as possible once you have decided to get help. If the identified symptoms of unipolar depression continue without any treatment, it can become even more likely for further episodes of depression to occur in the future.

Medication

Medication for depression targets one of the biological causes of depression: low levels of specific neurotransmitters that affect mood, energy, and motivation. The proper medication can improve the relief of symptoms in instances where therapy alone has not been effective enough. However, outcome studies have shown that medication alone does not provide the same lasting benefits therapy treatment for unipolar depression offers.

Individuals should only start medication after discussing their potential risks and side effects with a medical professional familiar with their treatment history.

There are various types of medication for depression and several possibilities for administration within each type to target individuals or combinations of neurotransmitters. The most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant is the class known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which the FDA approves for the treatment of unipolar depression.

Other types of antidepressants approved by the FDA for the same purpose include:10

  • Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
  • Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs)
  • Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
  • Tricyclic and Tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
  • Outliers such as Remeron do not fit in the above medication classes

All of these medications require a prescription and should only be taken with the oversight of the person prescribing. Medical guidance is also needed for any changes in dosage and for the process of discontinuing medication to prevent potential withdrawal reactions.

How to Find a Therapist

If you’re ready to find a therapist, consider asking for a referral from your primary care provider, or start your search in an online therapist directory. This allows you to narrow down your search by things like location, expertise, and cost.

Final Thoughts on Unipolar Depression

While it’s difficult to cope with unipolar depression, there are ways to manage it effectively. Although there are different forms of unipolar depression, they all share similar symptoms. In most cases, therapy is the recommended treatment and may be supplemented with antidepressant medication for some people. It’s never too soon to ask for help if you are struggling with symptoms of unipolar depression.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Talk Therapy 

Online-Therapy.com – Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. Online-Therapy.com provides 45 minute weekly video sessions and unlimited text messaging with your therapist for only $64/week. Get Started

Online Psychiatry

Hims / Hers – If you’re living with anxiety or depression, finding the right medication match may make all the difference. Get FDA approved medication prescribed by your dedicated Hims / Hers Healthcare Provider and delivered right to your door. Plans start at $25 per month (first month)*. Get Started

Depression Newsletter

A free newsletter from Choosing Therapy for those impacted by depression. Get helpful tips and the latest information. Sign Up

Learn Anti-Stress & Relaxation Techniques

Mindfulness.com – Change your life by practicing mindfulness. In a few minutes a day, you can start developing mindfulness and meditation skills. Free Trial

Choosing Therapy Directory 

You can search for therapists by specialty,  experience, insurance, or price, and location. Find a therapist today.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Online-Therapy, Hims / Hers, and Mindfulness.com. *Hims / Hers Disclaimer: Subscription required. After first month, price is $85/month for a monthly subscription or $49/month for a three-month subscription ($123 for first order, $147 billed quarterly thereafter). Subscription automatically renews unless you cancel at least 7 days before renewal is processed.

For Further Reading

  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America
  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK
  • Mental Health America
  • National Alliance on Mental Health
  • MentalHealth.gov

Unipolar Depression Infographics

What Is Unipolar Depression Unipolar Depression Symptoms When to Seek Professional Help for Unipolar Depression

10 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • National Institute of Mental Health. (2019, February). Major Depression. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtm

  • Han, K.-M., et al. (2019). Differentiating between bipolar and unipolar depression in functional and structural MRI studies [Abstract]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278584618300514

  • Lyness, J. (2022, May). Unipolar depression in adults: Assessment and diagnosis. Retrieved from: https://uptodate.com/contents/unipolar-depression-in-adults-assessment-and-diagnosis/

  • NAMI. (2017, August). Depression. Retrieved from: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression

  • MedlinePlus. (2018, April 1). Depression. Retrieved from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/depression/#inheritance

  • Hathaway, Bill. (2021, May 27). Roots of Major Depression Revealed in All their Genetic Complexity. Yale News. Retrieved from: https://news.yale.edu/2021/05/27/roots-major-depression-revealed-all-their-genetic-complexity

  • Adaa.org (2021,February). How to Know When to Seek Therapy. Retrieved from: https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/how-know-when-seek-therapy

  • Driessen, Ellen, M.Sc. and Steven D. Hollon, Ph.D. (2010, September).  “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mood Disorders: Efficacy, Moderators and Mediators.” Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2933381

  • Gauhar, Yasmeen (2016). The efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of depression. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 10(2), DOI: 10.1891/1933-3196.10.2.59

  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). Medications approved by the FDA for the Treatment of Unipolar Depression. Retrieved from: https://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/medication_charts/unipolar.pdf

update history

We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.

  • Originally Published: July 11, 2022
    Original Author: Dianne Grande, PhD
    Original Reviewer: Maria Simbra, MD, MPH

  • Updated: February 16, 2023
    Author: No Change
    Reviewer: No Change
    Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources.

Recent Articles

Klarity ADHD Review 2023: Cost, Pros & Cons, & Who It’s Right For
Klarity Health is an online medication management platform for individuals with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
';
Depression Movies
15 Eye-Opening & Inspiring Movies About Depression
We asked some of our resident therapists to see what movies they think do a good job of portraying...
';
Depression blogs
Best Depression Blogs for This Year
We collected a list of depression blogs that might fit the needs of anyone searching for more answers and...
';
post weaning depression
Post-Weaning Depression: Symptoms, Causes, & How to Cope
Post-weaning depression can develop after stopping breastfeeding, leading to intense mood swings and feelings of melancholy and sadness. Post-weaning...
';
How Can a Bipolar Brain Scan Help Diagnoses
Can a Bipolar Brain Scan Help in Diagnosis?
Brain scans are used to study the differences in brain structure and functioning of those with bipolar disorder. These...
';
alcohol and depression
Alcohol & Depression: Connection, Symptoms, & Treatment
Research shows depressive disorders are the most common mental illnesses in people with alcohol use disorder. Someone experiencing depression...
';
Headshot of Dianne Grande, Ph.D.
Written by:

Dianne Grande

Ph.D.
Dr. Maria Simbra, MD, MPH
Reviewed by:

Dr. Maria Simbra

MD, MPD
  • What Is Depression?Depression
  • What Is Unipolar Depression?Unipolar Depression
  • MDD vs. Other Types of Unipolar DepressionMDD
  • Unipolar Depression SymptomsSymptoms
  • Causes of Unipolar DepressionCauses
  • When to Seek Professional Help for Unipolar DepressionGet Help
  • Unipolar Depression TreatmentsTreatments
  • Final Thoughts on Unipolar DepressionConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Unipolar Depression InfographicsInfographics
Call for immediate help
Emergency: 911
Suicide Hotline: 988
See more Crisis Hotlines
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Careers
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • No Surprises Act
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
988
Click For More Crisis Hotlines
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
811
See more Crisis Hotlines
here
logo
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
Choosing Therapy Logo