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| Groups of Signs and Symptoms. |
 Depression is displayed differently according to one's age, sex, and culture. The signs of depression are different in teenagers and elderly people. An awareness of these differences helps guarantee that the problem is recognized and treated.
• Teen Depression – Depression in children and adolescents can look quite different from that of adults. Petulance—rather than depression—is often the predominant mood. A depressed child or teenager may be hostile, quarrelsome, or easily lose his or her temper. Common symptom of depression in children and teens is unexplained aches and pains, such as headaches and stomachaches. There can be other signs of depression in children, such as pretending to be sick, refusing to go to school, getting into trouble, clinging to a parent, or worrying that the parent may die.
• Depression in Women – Rates of depression in women are twice as high as they are in men. This is because of hormonal factors, especially when it comes to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), postpartum depression, and perimenopausal depression. When it comes to symptoms, women are more likely than men to undergo spoken feelings of guilt, sleep excessively, overeat, and gain weight. Women are also more likely to experience seasonal affective disorder.
• Depression in Men – Depressed men are less likely than women to accept feelings of self-loathing and despair. Instead, they more likely to complain about exhaustion, irritability, sleep problems, and loss of interest in work and hobbies. Other symptoms of depression in men are anger, aggression and violence, thoughtless behavior, and substance abuse. Men may also try to overcome with their depression by throwing themselves into their work.
• Depression in Older Adults and the Elderly – The difficult problems that many older adults can have—such as bereavement, loss of independence, and health problems—can cause depression, especially in those without a strong support system. Nevertheless, depression is not a normal part of aging. Older adults usually complain more about the physical rather than the emotional symptoms of depression, and so their mood disorder often goes undiagnosed. But depression in the elderly is associated with poor health, a high mortality rate, and an increased risk of suicide, so diagnosis and treatment are of great importance.
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