Traits of Clinical Depression
Posted by Administrator in Mental Health.Clinical depression is characterized by the presence of the majority of these symptoms:
* Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feeling sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). (In children and adolescents, this may be characterized as an irritable mood.)* Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day * Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. * Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day * Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
* Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day * Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day * Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day * Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
In addition, for a diagnosis of major depression to be made, the symptoms must not be better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation. Read more