Depression may refer to:

Mental health

Depression (mood) Depression is a mental state of low mood and aversion to activity, which affects more than 280 million people of all ages (about 3.5% of the global population). Classified medically as a mental and behavioral disorder, the experience of ...

, a state of low mood and aversion to activity *

Mood disorder A mood disorder, also known as an affective disorder, is any of a group of conditions of mental and behavioral disorder where a disturbance in the person's mood is the main underlying feature. The classification is in the '' Diagnostic and St ...

s characterized by depression are commonly referred to as simply ''depression'', including: **

Dysthymia Dysthymia ( ), also known as persistent depressive disorder (PDD), is a mental and behavioral disorder, specifically a disorder primarily of mood, consisting of similar cognitive and physical problems as major depressive disorder, but with lo ...

, also known as persistent depressive disorder **

Major depressive disorder Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Intro ...

, also known as clinical depression

Economics

* Economic depression, a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies ** Great Depression, a severe economic depression during the 1930s, commonly referred to as simply ''the Depression'' **

Long Depression The Long Depression was a worldwide price and economic recession, beginning in 1873 and running either through March 1879, or 1896, depending on the metrics used. It was most severe in Europe and the United States, which had been experiencing st ...

, an economic depression during 1873–96, known at the time as the ''Great Depression''

Biology

Depression (kinesiology) Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relativ ...

, an anatomical term of motion, refers to downward movement, the opposite of elevation *

Depression (physiology) In physiology and medicine, depression refers to a lowering, in particular a reduction in a specific biological variable or the functions of an organ. It is the opposite of elevation. For example, it is possible to refer to "depressed thyroid fu ...

, a reduction in a biological variable or the function of an organ *

Central nervous system depression Central nervous system (CNS) depression is a physiological state that can result in a decreased rate of breathing, decreased heart rate, and loss of consciousness possibly leading to coma or death. It is the result of inhibited or suppressed brai ...

, physiological depression of the central nervous system that can result in loss of consciousness

Earth science

* Depression (geology), a landform sunken or depressed below the surrounding area *

Depression (weather) In meteorology, a low-pressure area, low area or low is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure areas are commonly associated with inclement weather (such as cloudy, windy, with possible ...

, an area of low atmospheric pressure characterized by rain and unstable weather {{Disambiguation