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What is Endogenous Depression? Symptoms and Treatment

What is Endogenous Depression? Symptoms and Treatment

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Researchers and psychiatrists once divided depression into two types. Endogenous and exogenous which means from within and from without respectively. When there was no reason for depression then it was called endogenous depression, this type of depression was because of genetics. When the depression is because of trauma or any event, it is known as exogenous depression. They were treated differently at that time. But now they both are referred to as major depressive disorder (MDD) and the treatment for both types is the same. In this article,  we will see endogenous depression definition, its symptoms, and how to cope with it.

What is Endogenous Depression?

Endogenous is a Latin word meaning “from within”. It is a type of major depressive disorder. There was a time when it was considered a distinct illness, but now it is treated as major depressive disorder (MDD) also known as clinical depression. It is a mood disorder caused by intense and persistent feelings of sadness and remorse for an extended period of time. This type of mood change also affects your behavioral health and affects your sleep and appetite. In the United States, almost 7% of children face the challenges of MDD each year.

Causes of Endogenous Depression

While there is no specific reason for endogenous depression. However, there are some factors that are considered as the trigger points for endogenous depression. It is believed that it may be caused by a combination of these:

  • Genetic factors
  • Biological factors
  • Psychological factors
  • Environmental factors

Depression is usually caused by trauma like having a breakup, losing a loved one, or any specific phobia. But endogenous depression does not have any exact trigger points and its symptoms start to appear suddenly and for no reason.

Read More: Major Depressive Disorder In Children: A Guide For Parents

Endogenous Depression Symptoms 

If you have endogenous depression, then your symptoms will start to appear suddenly without any apparent reason. People with MDD exhibit a variety of indications that help in understanding the situation. Symptoms of MDD and endogenous depression are the same. Here are the symptoms of endogenous depression:

  • Persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of motivation
  • Loss of interest in hobbies that once enjoyed
  • Acute Stress
  • Trouble concentrating and thinking
  • Feeling anxiety all the time

Risk Factors for Endogenous Depression

Endogenous depression is because of cognitive or biological stress, not because of external factors. If you know someone who is having endogenous depression, then there is a chance that he has a family history of related problems. There are some co-occurring disorders that come with endogene depression. It usually occurs with anxiety, specifically generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), and other mood disorders like bipolar disorder.

How to Diagnose Endogenous Depression?

Depression can be diagnosed by your mental health professional. First, they need your medical history to evaluate your condition. After reviewing your medical history, they will ask you for symptoms. Your doctor might give you a questionnaire and ask you to fill it out. From this form, they will find out whether you have MDD or not.

The main criteria is “depressed mood or loss of interest or lack of motivation and feeling helplessness”.  Although this questionnaire used to differentiate exogenous and endogenous depression, now they are treated the same.

Read More: Understanding The Connection Between Male Depression And Emotional Affairs

How to Treat Endogenous Depression?

Treating both types of depression endogenous and exogenous is not an easy process, but it can be treated with the combination of therapy and medications. But there is a small problem, there are some disorders that come with depression, including ADHD and other anxiety issues. There are different ways to treat depression. Let’s discuss them

Medication

The most common way to treat any disorder or illness is medication. But for depression, medication management is extremely necessary as the pills can affect your daily life if not taken appropriately. The most common pills used for treating clinical depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. These medications increase the level of brain chemicals which results in minimizing depressive behavior.

Therapy

Psychotherapy also known as talk therapy is a perfect way to deal with endogenous depression. This type of therapy involves a meeting with a therapist on a daily basis. There are two main therapies involved in this psychotherapy including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you take control of your negative thoughts and freshen up your mind with positive thoughts. In this way, you can control your depressive behavior and be happy in your life.

Interpersonal therapy helps you through disturbing relationships that were ruined because of your bad behavior. This therapy is used to make your relationships better with family, friends, and loved ones.

Usually, a combination of both medication and therapy is used to treat depression.

Read More: Bipolar Disorder Vs ADHD: Learn The Symptoms

Lifestyle Modifications

Another way to manage depression is by making changes in your lifestyle. Making certain adjustments to your routine can help you make your life better and less depressing. Here are the things that you can do to deal with your depression.

  • Sleeping for at least 7 hours daily.
  • Drinking 3 to 4 liters of mineral water daily.
  • Eating nutrient-rich food.
  • Quitting smoking and drinking
  • Waking up early in the morning
  • Doing activity or exercise for at least 30 min.

By following these habits, you can change your life and minimize depression.

Telepsychiatry 

Telehealth is a modern way to provide mental health solutions to people through digital means. Telepsychiatry is gaining popularity so you gain mental wellness within the comfort of your home. Despite the technology, people are still not getting mental health solutions but telepsychiatry is a progressive approach.

If you can’t get to the clinic due to a busy schedule, depression can also be treated remotely. Whether you want medication management, therapy sessions, or lifestyle modification instructions, you can get all the treatment you need at your home.

At Orange Coast Psychiatry, we provide professional telepsychiatry mental services. Our services are customized for each patient and help you attain the ultimate mental well-being.

Read More: Coping Mechanisms For Depression: Practical Strategies To Help You Navigate

Conclusion 

Endogenous depression is the type of depression that comes without any specific reason. Its symptoms include hopelessness, lack of motivation, and fatigue. If someone in your family has depression, then you might also have it. It is detected by the questionnaires and can be treated with medication, therapies, and lifestyle modifications. If you want to treat it through telepsychiatry, Orange Coast Psychiatry is the best service provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reference and Footnotes
  1. Kerr, M. (2023, October 20). Melancholic depression: symptoms, treatment, tests, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/melancholic-depression#treatments
  2. Wikipedia contributors. (2024, December 25). Endogenous depression. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endogenous_depression
  3. Schimelpfening, N. (2022, July 21). Endogenous vs. Exogenous Depression: What Are the Differences? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-endogenous-depression-1067283

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May Faustino

Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

May Faustino, PMHNP-BC, is a compassionate and highly skilled psychiatric provider with over four years of nursing experience, including three years specializing in psychiatric care. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Coast University, where she received extensive training in managing the psychiatric needs of pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations, as well as providing therapy and counseling services.
May has worked in diverse mental health settings, including forensic psychiatry at the Department of State Hospitals and behavioral health services at Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health. Her clinical expertise spans psychiatric assessments, medication management, and trauma-informed care, with a strong focus on treating anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders.
Bilingual in English and Tagalog, May is dedicated to serving diverse patient populations with a culturally sensitive approach. She is trained in evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing and is well-versed in trauma-informed care and suicide prevention strategies.
May is passionate about promoting resilience and recovery through preventive mental health care and individualized, holistic treatment plans. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her memberships in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
In her personal time, May enjoys fostering mindfulness and well-being through activities she loves, such as spending time with her husband and their two beloved cats, Pippy and Eva.

Dr. Montgomery

M.D. – Psychiatrist

Dr. Torri Montgomery, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with a subspecialty board certification in forensic psychiatry. Dr. Montgomery is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
Dr. Montgomery earned her Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) from Arizona State University and her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from The University of Arizona, College of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. During her psychiatry residency, Dr. Montgomery completed a year-long certification in Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), earned a certificate from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe medication for the treatment of substance use disorders, and worked in a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic for substance use disorders. Additionally, she was appointed Chief Resident and received an Excellence in Teaching award.
After psychiatry residency, she completed her Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. After completing her fellowship, Dr. Montgomery has worked in public psychiatry for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. She teaches, consults, and treats individuals with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, and serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders. Her experience includes outpatient, inpatient, emergency, consult liaison, addiction, dual-diagnosis, and forensic psychiatry. She is an expert evaluator on the Superior Court of California Panel of Expert Psychiatrists and Psychologists. Dr. Montgomery is an attending physician for the Harbor-UCLA Department of Psychiatry and serves as a psychiatrist with Orange Coast psychiatry.

Dr. Ravi

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Dr. Dave Ravi, M.D., is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with additional qualifications in geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Ravi is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
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Dr. Irwin

M.D. , Ph.D – Psychiatrist

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Richard currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where he is supervised by Dr. Montgomery.

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A California State University Long Beach graduate, Cristian also earned recognition as a board-certified psychiatric mental health registered nurse. With a wealth of expertise in adult psychiatric care across the lifespan, Cristian has successfully diagnosed and treated a diverse range of mental health disorders.
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“My approach is grounded in years of diverse experience, including work in psychiatric units and medical detox units for both adults and adolescents. This extensive background has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to manage complex psychiatric and substance abuse conditions effectively. I am committed to staying updated with the latest advancements in psychiatric care, integrating cutting-edge therapies and best practices into my treatment plans. Collaboration is key to my practice; I work closely with multidisciplinary teams, families, and community resources to provide coordinated and comprehensive care tailored to each individual’s unique needs.”

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Griselda currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Dr Barrios

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Dr. Carlos Barrios is a Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over two decades of experience in mental health care. His expertise in telepsychiatry has allowed him to serve patients across California and beyond. In his practice, Dr Barrios integrates metabolic and functional methodologies, focusing on guiding patients toward medication independence and emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health.
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