Depression

What is Depression?

According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM), 5th Edition, a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder includes the following criteria:

• Depressed mood

  This can be indicated by subjective reports or observations by others, and may present as sadness, emptiness, or irritability in children and adolescents.

• Loss of interest or pleasure

  This is known as anhedonia, and refers to a lack of interest or pleasure in activities that are usually enjoyable. 

2. Additional Symptoms (at least five required): 

• Significant weight loss or gain: This is defined as more than 5% of body weight in a month, or a decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. 

• Insomnia or hypersomnia: This involves difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping nearly every day. 

• Psychomotor agitation or retardation: This refers to observable changes in physical movement, such as restlessness or slowed movements. 

• Fatigue or loss of energy: This is a persistent feeling of tiredness nearly every day. 

• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt: This can include delusional guilt or feeling excessively responsible for negative events. 

• Difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness: This can be reported by the individual or observed by others. 

• Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts: These thoughts are not just a fear of dying, but rather a preoccupation with death or having a plan for suicide. 

3. Other Important Considerations:

• Duration:

  The symptoms must be present for at least two weeks, and the individual must have experienced a change in their previous level of functioning. 

• Exclusion:

  A diagnosis of MDD cannot be made if the symptoms are better explained by another medical condition, the effects of a substance, or bereavement. 

• Impairment:

  The symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. 

An MDD diagnosis requires a persistent and pervasive disturbance in mood, accompanied by a collection of other significant symptoms that impair daily functioning. 

You may not have all of the criteria listed above, but your are noticing the some symptoms (like lack of motivation, hopelessness, or sadness) are starting to negatively impact your life (e.g., relationships, sleep, etc.). The good news is that there are a lot of strategies that can improve depression!

Below, you will find some resources that may be helpful to manage depression symptoms.