Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a prevalent mental health disorder affecting approximately 21 million adults and 5 million adolescents in the United States annually (Brody & Hughes, 2025). It’s a leading cause of disability worldwide, impairing daily life, exacerbating medical conditions, and increasing suicide risk (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025). MMD is diagnosed through clinical interview and mental status examination, client’s self-reported symptoms, observations from relatives or close contacts, and findings from assessment instruments.