A depression or depression

Question

1. She had a depression when she was a kid.2. She had depression when she was a kid.Is depression countable or uncountable?Are both of these correct?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

fold scarf 1011. She had a depression when she was a kid.

This one isn't good. (Not correct.)

fold scarf 1012. She had depression when she was a kid.

This one is possible (correct), but we very often express this idea differently:

She was depressed when she was a kid.

If she was so depressed that she had to be medically treated for her depression, i.e., she was prescribed anti-depressant drugs, you would say

She was clinically depressed when she was a kid.
Or
She was treated for clinical depression when she was a kid.

fold scarf 101Is depression countable or uncountable?

Uncountable.

The countable version is a bout of depression or an episode of depression.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

fold scarf 1012. She had depression when she was a kid.

As a matter of idiom, you don't "have" depression the way you have the flu or have acne. You suffer from it.

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