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Altered Moment · Nov 16, 2014, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfwsteph

Depression is when I can't get out of bed and take a shower, brush teeth...for days, don't wanna talk to anyone. At times it was so bad I wanted total silence... no tv, radio.
stephanie

That's exactly how it is for me when it is real bad. Except weeks or months, sometimes days.

I think the current definition of Major Depressive Disorder or "Clinical" depression is pretty good. If it were up to me I might add in previous history of episodes but then it might be someones first episode. That is where it is really up to the clinician to ask a lot of questions about what may be the cause and history and stuff. Not just say oh you meet the criteria here is a med.

http://www.nami.org/Content/Navigati..._D_Episode.pdf

Quote:

Criteria for Major Depressive Episode: DSM-5
A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-
week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the
symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or
mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.
• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either
subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g.,
appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the
day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation
made by others).
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more
than 5 percent of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite
nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight
gains.
• Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not
merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be
delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
(either by subjective account or as observed by others).
• 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.
B. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational or other important areas of functioning.
C. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a
drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism)

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