Esperanza Hope To Cope: A Guide For Diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder in Adults

by bp Magazine

According to the DSM-5, to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder, someone must have a combination of five from the following list of symptoms in the criteria:

 

Major depressive disorder:

Symptoms must interfere to a marked degree with social relationships, school or work, and other daily activities. Five or more of the following symptoms, including either depressed mood or diminished pleasure, must be present most of every day for at least two weeks:

• Depressed mood (sad, empty or hopeless)
• Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities (anhedonia)
• Eating more than usual or not eating
• Insomnia or sleeping more than usual (hypersomnia)
• Speaking and moving more slowly (psychomotor retardation), or rapid speech and physical restlessness
• Fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Trouble concentrating, difficulty making decisions
• Suicidal thinking, recurring thoughts of death

 

Persistent depressive disorder:

Two or more of the following symptoms occur more days than not for at least two years, and symptom-free periods don’t last longer than two months.

• Poor appetite or overeating
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Low energy or fatigue
• Low self-esteem
• Poor concentration or difficulty making decisions
• Feelings of hopelessness

 

 

Read the full article: “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Depression”

 

via Esperanza – Hope To Cope
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