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What is Depression?

Depression in Men

Do I have Depression?

If you know someone with Depression

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The only person who can really tell if you have Depression is your doctor. However, there are a number of recognised symptoms which indicated that you may have Depression. Remember that this is a guide only. As with most illnesses, a list of symptoms only gives an indication.

DSM-IV criteria
According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) a major depression is indicated by the presence of five or more of the following symptoms over a two week period:

1 - Presence of depressed mood, such as feelings of emptiness or deep sadness, tearfulness, extreme reluctance to socialise with others etc. for much of the time. The mood does not lift as the day progresses, or with normally mood enhancing stimuli. Depressed mood is often worst in the morning and interferes with normal activity.

2 - A much reduced interest or pleasure taken in most or all activities.

3 - Large change in appetite, which is usually much reduced but may be increased. The depressive has no interest in eating and no desire to eat, although some cases will eat far more than normal. Accompanying significant weight loss/gain.

4 - Sleep disturbance. Lack of sleep (insomnia) or oversleep (hypersomnia). The depressive may find that they are unable to sleep at night, no matter what attempts are made to tire themselves out, yet falls asleep at work during the morning or afternoon.

5 - 'Psychomotor agitation or retardation'. The person either cannot sit still or is unable to move. For example, getting out of bed becomes an enormous struggle, but when in work the individual cannot sit at their desk for more than a few seconds but must wander up and down apparently purposeless.

6 - Fatigue or loss of energy.

7 - Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).

8 - Reduced ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day. Even reading an enjoyable novel may become an impossible task.

9 - 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.