Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses and Risk FactorsSymptomsTalking About DepressionTreatmentRecurrent EpisodesLifestyle and Habits to Form
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes and Risk Factors
Symptoms
Talking About Depression
Treatment
Recurrent Episodes
Lifestyle and Habits to Form
Endogenousdepressionis a mental health disorder that occurs suddenly without an obvious reason. It happens without the presence of common triggers like stress, trauma, or grief.
Endogenous depression is a term rarely used in current mental health treatment. Instead, its symptoms are classed as a subtype ofmajor depressive disorder (MDD).Symptoms of this problem involve long spells of low mood and extreme sadness. Treatment often combines certain drugs,talk therapy, and lifestyle changes.
This article describes endogenous depression, its causes, symptoms, and treatment. It also explains how to deal with long-term symptoms and living with this problem.
Carlo107 / Getty Images
Understanding Endogenous Depression in Today’s Terms
Endogenous depression is an outdated term. It was used in the past when a diagnosis of depression was categorized as being either endogenous (internal) or exogenous (external, also called reactive). The distinction was made based on the belief that each type of depression required different treatment.
Endogenous depression occurs without obvious external triggers. Instead, the cause is attributed to internal genetic or biological causes. As a result, endogenous depression is also called biogenic depression.
MDD can lead to a prolonged dark mood and interfere with daily activities. Treatment is based on your symptoms rather than whether their causes are internal or external.
Endogenous depression does not occur as a result of a single cause. It is often described from the person having it as happening for no reason and appearing suddenly. However, certain internal factors can increase your risk of endogenous depression:
Differences From Exogenous or Reactive Depression
Exogenous depression differs from endogenous depression because external factors of life trigger exogenous depression. Exogenous depression is referred to as “reactive depression” because it occurs in reaction to a specific identifiable event.
Common causes of exogenous (reactive) depression can involve the following:
While some research has pointed toward a chemical imbalance as the cause of depression, other evidence suggests that the disease is more complex.The challenge counters that blaming a chemical imbalance for depression is over-simplistic. This approach says that depression occurs as a combination of genetics, life circumstances, personality, and many different chemical reactions in your brain, all of which work together in this disorder.
Symptoms: Episodes of Endogenous Depression
Episodes of endogenous depression involve a set of signs and symptoms that are present for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. These can include following:
Emergency Help for DepressionIf you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call 911 immediately or call the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline(formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)at988.
Emergency Help for Depression
If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call 911 immediately or call the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline(formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)at988.
How to Talk About Depression “From Within”
If you recognize symptoms of depression “from within,” contact a healthcare provider to discuss your concerns. While it can be difficult to talk about mental health, doing so is the first step in finding the cause of your problem and getting proper treatment.
You may feel more comfortable talking about your concerns if you write them down and bring your notes to your appointment. To get the most from your appointment, follow these strategies from the American Academy of Family Physicians on ways to talk to your healthcare provider about mental health:
Treating Endogenous Depression
Treatment for depressioninvolves a plan that is tailored to your symptoms and individual needs.
Medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two are typically used to treat episodes of major depressive disorder. Research indicates that a combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy treatment is the most effective approach.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are prescription medications used to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are several classes of antidepressants, and often many medications within each class of antidepressant.
Everyone has different reactions to a specific drug, so it may take some trial and error to find the right medication for your condition. The following medications are some of the most commonly used to treat depression.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs):
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs):
Norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI):Wellbutrin, Zyban (bupropion)
Noradrenergic and specific serotoninergic antidepressants(NaSSAs): Remeron (mirtazapine)
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapyincludes several approaches. The specific approach used for your treatment depends on your symptoms and preferences. Research indicates that the following therapies are used most often in treating depression:
Recurrent Endogenous Depression Episodes
Major depressive disorder can potentially be a lifelong illness. Rather than having one episode of endogenous depression, it is possible to have additional episodes after periods of time without symptoms.
Episodes of depression can recur in at least half of the people diagnosed with a major depressive disorder who receive treatment and recover. This can occur within weeks to years after the first episode has been treated and symptoms have been resolved.
Recurrent depression episodes may have triggers that are different from the initial episode. If you have several recurrent depression episodes, your mental health professional may advise long-term maintenance treatment to manage your condition.
What to Do About Treatment-Resistant Depression and Management
Lifestyle and Habits to Form With Endogenous Depression
Certain lifestyle changes and habits can support the treatment and management of endogenous depression. The following strategies for self-care can play an important role in managing symptoms of depression:
Learn to recognize symptoms of depression. Contact your mental health provider if you notice changes in the way you feel or act so they can intervene with medication changes or therapy as early as possible.
Symptoms of Chronic Stress and Treatments
A Word From Verywell
—DAKARI QUIMBY, LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, MEDICAL REVIEW BOARD
Summary
No matter the source of your symptoms, depression can be treated. Medication and psychotherapy are the two approaches most often used and may be used together. The right approach can help you rebound from your symptoms and improve your life.
Don’t overlook changes such as long-term low mood, social withdrawal, or loss of interest in normal activities. Contact your healthcare provider for ways to manage these symptoms and get specialized treatment.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Malki K, Keers R, Tosto MG, et al.The endogenous and reactive depression subtypes revisited: integrative animal and human studies implicate multiple distinct molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder.BMC Med. 2014;12:73. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-12-73Revive Research Institute.What is endogenous depression and its characteristics?American Psychiatric Association.Depression.Naitonal Alliance for Mental Health.Depression,Remes O, Mendes JF, Templeton P.Biological, psychological, and social determinants of depression: a review of recent literature.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1633. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121633Shadrina M, Bondarenko EA, Slominsky PA.Genetics factors in major depression disease.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:334. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00334Ang B, Horowitz M, Moncrieff J.Is the chemical imbalance an ‘urban legend’? An exploration of the status of the serotonin theory of depression in the scientific literature.SSM - Mental Health. 2022;2:100098. doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100098Harvard Health Publishing.What causes depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Academy of Family Physicians.Talking to your doctor about your mental health.Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani Andrea, Furukawa TA.A network meta‐analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701NIH MedlinePlus Magazine.Commonly prescribed antidepressants and how they work.Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350World Health Organization (WHO).Depressive disorder (depression).
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Malki K, Keers R, Tosto MG, et al.The endogenous and reactive depression subtypes revisited: integrative animal and human studies implicate multiple distinct molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder.BMC Med. 2014;12:73. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-12-73Revive Research Institute.What is endogenous depression and its characteristics?American Psychiatric Association.Depression.Naitonal Alliance for Mental Health.Depression,Remes O, Mendes JF, Templeton P.Biological, psychological, and social determinants of depression: a review of recent literature.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1633. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121633Shadrina M, Bondarenko EA, Slominsky PA.Genetics factors in major depression disease.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:334. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00334Ang B, Horowitz M, Moncrieff J.Is the chemical imbalance an ‘urban legend’? An exploration of the status of the serotonin theory of depression in the scientific literature.SSM - Mental Health. 2022;2:100098. doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100098Harvard Health Publishing.What causes depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Academy of Family Physicians.Talking to your doctor about your mental health.Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani Andrea, Furukawa TA.A network meta‐analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701NIH MedlinePlus Magazine.Commonly prescribed antidepressants and how they work.Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350World Health Organization (WHO).Depressive disorder (depression).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Malki K, Keers R, Tosto MG, et al.The endogenous and reactive depression subtypes revisited: integrative animal and human studies implicate multiple distinct molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder.BMC Med. 2014;12:73. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-12-73Revive Research Institute.What is endogenous depression and its characteristics?American Psychiatric Association.Depression.Naitonal Alliance for Mental Health.Depression,Remes O, Mendes JF, Templeton P.Biological, psychological, and social determinants of depression: a review of recent literature.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1633. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121633Shadrina M, Bondarenko EA, Slominsky PA.Genetics factors in major depression disease.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:334. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00334Ang B, Horowitz M, Moncrieff J.Is the chemical imbalance an ‘urban legend’? An exploration of the status of the serotonin theory of depression in the scientific literature.SSM - Mental Health. 2022;2:100098. doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100098Harvard Health Publishing.What causes depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Academy of Family Physicians.Talking to your doctor about your mental health.Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani Andrea, Furukawa TA.A network meta‐analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701NIH MedlinePlus Magazine.Commonly prescribed antidepressants and how they work.Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350World Health Organization (WHO).Depressive disorder (depression).
Malki K, Keers R, Tosto MG, et al.The endogenous and reactive depression subtypes revisited: integrative animal and human studies implicate multiple distinct molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder.BMC Med. 2014;12:73. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-12-73
Revive Research Institute.What is endogenous depression and its characteristics?
American Psychiatric Association.Depression.
Naitonal Alliance for Mental Health.Depression,
Remes O, Mendes JF, Templeton P.Biological, psychological, and social determinants of depression: a review of recent literature.Brain Sci. 2021;11(12):1633. doi:10.3390/brainsci11121633
Shadrina M, Bondarenko EA, Slominsky PA.Genetics factors in major depression disease.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:334. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00334
Ang B, Horowitz M, Moncrieff J.Is the chemical imbalance an ‘urban legend’? An exploration of the status of the serotonin theory of depression in the scientific literature.SSM - Mental Health. 2022;2:100098. doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100098
Harvard Health Publishing.What causes depression?
National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Talking to your doctor about your mental health.
Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani Andrea, Furukawa TA.A network meta‐analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701
NIH MedlinePlus Magazine.Commonly prescribed antidepressants and how they work.
Karrouri R, Hammani Z, Benjelloun R, Otheman Y.Major depressive disorder: validated treatments and future challenges.World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(31):9350-9367. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9350
World Health Organization (WHO).Depressive disorder (depression).
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
