Different types of depression often have slightly different symptoms and may require different treatments. The five main types of depression are listed below. 

• Major depression - a depressed mood that lasts for at least two weeks. This may also be referred to as clinical depression or unipolar depression.
• Psychotic depression - a depressed mood which includes symptoms of psychosis. Psychosis involves seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations), feeling everyone is against you (paranoia) and having delusions.
• Dysthymia - a less severe depressed mood that lasts for years.
• Mixed depression and anxiety - a combination of symptoms of depression  and anxiety. 
• Bipolar disorder - (formally known as manic depressive illness) - involves periods of feeling low (depressed) and high (manic).
  

Is depression common?

Very common. Around one million Australian adults and 100,000 young people live with depression each year. On average, one in five people will experience depression in their lifetime - one in four females and one in six males.