Depression can refer to a symptom, a mood, or to the presence of a depressed mood accompanied by several additional symptoms, which indicates a clinical syndrome (1). Certain criteria must be met to diagnose Major Depression and must be distinguished from other similar disorders. There also exist subtypes of this disorder which effects people over age, race, and social status lines. Treatment options are abundantly available when sufferers actually seek help.
Depression is defined by having at least one episode lasting 2 weeks or more with no mania. Typical onset age is in the mid 40's but depression can occur at any age. Depression is usually chronic and recurrent for most people, and 40% usually have a relapse within a year. The DSM IV criteria for a single episode of depression are:.
A. Presence of a single major depressive episode.
a. 5 or more of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from a previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. 1-9 are present nearly every day and are observable by others.
1. Depressed mood most of the day.
2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all activities.
3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite.
4. Insomnia or hypersomnia.
5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation.
6. Fatigue or loss of energy.
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt.
8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness.
9. Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan for committing suicide.
b. The symptoms don't meet criteria for mixed episode.
c. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
d. The symptoms aren't due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.
