Symptoms
A major depressive episode is not a disorder in itself, but is
a part of another disorder, most often major depressive disorder
or bipolar disorder.
A person who suffers from a major depressive episode must either
have a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily
activities consistently for at least a 2 week period. This mood
must represent a change from the person's normal mood; social,
occupational, educational or other important functioning must
also be negatively impaired by the change in mood. A major depressive
episode is also characterized by the presence of a majority of
these Symptoms:
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). (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
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