Diagnosing Depression
Primary DSM-IV depression disorders, criteria for adults
Depressive Diagnoses
Symptoms
Major Depressive Episode:
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5 or more depressive symptoms for ≥ 2 weeks
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Must have either depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure
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Symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment
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No manic or hypomanic behavior
Minor Depressive Episode*:
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2-4 depressive symptoms for ≥ 2 weeks
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Must have depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure
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Symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment
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No manic or hypomanic behavior
Dysthymic Disorder:
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Depressed mood for most of the time for at least two years
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Presence of 2 or more of symptoms of dysthymia
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Never without symptoms for 2 months or more over 2 year period
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Symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment
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No major depressive disorder in first two years, no manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes.
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Depressed Mood
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Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in most or all activities
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Significant weight loss (or poor appetite) or weight gain
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Insomnia or hypersomnia
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Psychomotor retardation
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Fatigue or loss of energy
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Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
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Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
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Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), or suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt
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Significant weight loss (or poor appetite) or weight gain
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Insomnia or hypersomnia
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Fatigue or loss of energy
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Low self-esteem
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Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
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Feelings of hopelessness
* not a formal diagnosis but considered a research category requiring further study