classification by aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
In general classification according to aetiology is of little clinical use. The main concepts are:
- endogenous depression:
- the cause of the depression is independent of external factors
- reactive depression:
- depression is a reaction to external stressors or events
- primary depression:
- depression is the primary disorder and not caused by other disorders such as schizophrenia or substance abuse
- secondary depression:
- depression is secondary to some other disorder such as schizophrenia, alcoholism, dementia etc