Is Major Depression cyclical?

[HildaOgden]

I wonder if you can help me?

I've tried researching it on the internet but got no definitive answer;

is Major Depression cyclical?

I have just had an episode of major psychotic depression (it lasted only 3 weeks).

I've been "ill" since 1999 and had years of being ill since then but in about the last 4/5 years, to me at least, it seems there is some cycle to my episodes.

I know I need to speak to my doc about this but I'm not seeing psych until Dec.

I seem to have flare ups Jan/Feb/March and then over the summer/early autumn.

I know Bipolar has cyclical features. My GP thinks I have Bipolar aspects but I'm not sure what my psych thinks.

Would be great if someone could help me out.

Thanks.

[whirlpools]

I'm not completely sure what cyclical means specifically, but I believe after each major depressive episode, the likelihood of experiencing another increases. Some may have one episode only, but after having two or more people will generally have another at some point.

Edit: I think it's recognised that mood disorders often have a seasonal element.

[Aubergine]

Hey.


I have episodes of depression that can be somewhat cyclical. I do not have bipolar and have never experienced mania/hypomania, but I do know that my moods kind of come in six monthly periods. I'll be without depression for six months, then it'll come back for a couple of months, then I'll be without it again for another six months.


I don't know if it happens like that for a lot of people, but that is my experience.

[HildaOgden]

Thanks Whirlpools & Aubergine.

I have BPD but my symptoms have reduced dramatically over the past 3 years but as I also have comorbid major depression with psychotic features I'm trying to distinguish whether the 'episodes' I have twice a year are BPD or the major depression.
I have felt in the past that my cpn (who I had for 12 yrs & who retired in March) & psych have put it down to BPD but I no longer have the chaos or self harm/suicidal urges I used to have (just about to finish 12 month dbt program).
Having said that I've just had a new dbt therapist take over my individual sessions & she's a psychiatrist as well as a psychotherapist & she said I just had a psychotic depressive episode.
It's so intertwined.
I guess what I really want to know is if I'm still diagnosed as having BPD as I've worked so hard to reduce symptoms. Or is it the depression that is causing the episodes.
Am seeing therapist tomorrow so I guess I could ask her but she's only known me for 6 weeks.

[whirlpools]

Do you feel that the episodes you experience now are different to ones you had in the past, and/or different to your baseline functioning now?

I'm wondering because I think if they are they're likely (in my non-professional opinion) to be distinct from BPD.

Although it's different for me as I haven't been diagnosed with psychotic depression, I occasionally experience episodes I would consider as similar, and would describe them as distinct from my usual BPD-like functioning.

In myself I wouldn't think the experiences are completely unlinked (ie my bordeline personality would naturally impact on my experiences of depression) but I know that I function very differently when I am living with the BPD without depression.

I've explained that dreadfully, sorry. I think it's wise to work with your new therapist and get an opinion of where you are now, as uninfluenced by where you may have been some time ago.

And well done for the work you've done to no longer go through the chaotic behaviour!

[tiptoes]

Some people are more prone to mood episodes at different times of the year - spring/summer as well as autumn/winter.

It might be worth plotting when you have had episodes and see if there are any patterns.

[HildaOgden]

thanks for responding. Yes, this past episode felt much less chaotic & I didn't self harm or attempt suicide which was amazing compared to how I used to be. I was severely depressed including psychomotor retardation.

I saw my therapist & she is wondering about an underlying mods/affective disorder. Especially as I described feeling invincible during the summer (I came off my antipsychotic depot in May - this could tie in). Coupled with the depression.

I would say I have very few symptoms of borderline now & my therapist is going to do a formal diagnostic Zannarini questionnaire used in diagnosing BPD in the next couple of weeks to see what I score.
I did the questionnaire 14 months ago when starting pre treatment for dbt & also 2.5 yrs ago when first being assessed for suitability for the dbt program.
It'll be really interesting to see how I score!

There does seem to be some sort of pattern to my episodes; Jan/Feb/March & July/August/Sept.
Although this episode tipped over into October.