[jellyfishpng]

hi.

i have two questions. how do doctors and psychiatrists differentiate between mild, moderate, and severe depression (mdd)?

also, at what point to doctors advise hospitalization for depression? everything i've heard has said "if you are a risk to yourself, or at risk of harming yourself or killing yourself." what does "harming" mean? like cutting? or suicidal actions? at what point do suicidal thoughts land you in the hospital?

(i'm a minor between the ages of 12-15 if that helps)

thank you

[MtnTime2896]

Well, I don't know all of the differences they account for to distinguish the type of depression someone has, as I'm not a doctor.
I do know that the only times I was ever admitted was when I was suicidal and/or homicidal. They didn't ever seem to care about the self harm, at least not enough to admit me. When thoughts turn into a plan it needs to be addressed before it turns into an attempt and some doctors will admit someone when said person describes their plan.
It also really depends on the situation as a whole, sometimes.

[Skeezyks]

Hello jellyfishpng: The Skeezyks isn't a doctor either. So I also cannot answer your questions with any authority. My personal perspective is that doctors don't really differentiate between mild, moderate & severe depression in any concrete way. They simply talk with you about how you are feeling / what you are experiencing; & then they subjectively decide what type of medication might be appropriate & how much, if any. Typically, I believe, the only time a person with depression would be hospitalized is if s/he is a danger to her / himself or others. (Of course some of this can vary too depending on where a person lives.)

This appears to be your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! I hope you find the time you spend here to be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. There are many knowledgeable & caring members here. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

[kkrrhh]

I think sometimes the doctor just uses their own opinion, and sometimes they look for certain characteristics. What I've heard is along the lines of: mild tends to be just bothersome and not always requiring treatment, moderate starts to really interfere with work or school, and severe is where someone has bad trouble with even the most basic functioning, like showering or getting out of bed at all.

The point that they usually say requires hospitalization is if you're suicidal and have a plan. If you really feel you need hospitalization, though, you should be able to go in even if you aren't at that point.