What causes a Reactive Depression?
Reactive depression is a depressed mood state related to a stressful life event or events. Examples of stressful life events include death of a family member or spouse, divorce, loss of job, problems with children, retirement, or even moving to a new location. An event that initiates a reactive depression may be seemingly minor or unimportant, in comparison to a grief reaction, which results from the death of a loved one. Reactive depression must be evaluated in the context of the events that triggered it. Symptoms lasting longer than a few months, or symptoms that interfere with daily functioning, such as work, school, family, or personal relationships, are significant enough to require a psychological evaluation.
