Background: Depression is one of the most common illnesses in the world, which today affects 280 million people globally. Depression occurs at all ages and is the largest group of mental illnesses linked to suicide. Women and the elderly are the most prone to depression. Depression is considered a public disease and is a complex disease with many aspects that influence its course and onset. The research indicates that the care of depressive patients can be deficient and lead to patient suffering and mistrust of the healthcare system. Furthermore, previous research shows that there is a lack of patients' perceived experiences of depression. In order to improve patients' treatment results, it is important to gain more understanding of depressive patients by allowing their point of view to take a greater place.

Aim: The aim was to describe adult patients' experiences of living with depression.

Method: A structured literature study with a focus on qualitative research containing seventeen scientific articles that were analyzed thematically in accordance with Braun and Clarke's content analysis.

Results: Two main themes and five subthemes were identified. The first main theme was Malaise with the subtheme Emotional experience and the subtheme Experiences of physical discomfort. The second main theme were Social aspects with the subtheme The social self-image, the subtheme Experiences of coping strategies and the subtheme Experiences of healthcare.

Conclusion: Depression has a significant impact on the life of the sufferer. The disease entails a wide range of emotional and physical ailments that cause the depressive patient to feel unwell. The disease entails a changed self-image that causes suffering and affects social aspects in the patient's life. Coping strategies affect everyday life and have an effect on the patient in social contexts. Experiences with healthcare affected patients' depression. Specialist nurses have a central role in care and, with the help of nurturing communication, they can instill vitality and hope in the depressive patient. By gainingan increased understanding of the patient's malaise and social aspects surrounding the depressed patient, specialist nurses can identify symptoms of depression in good time and provide more empathetic care.