Is It Depression Or Not?

Major Depressive Disorder is the most common type of clinical depression. It is a life-long disease which begins in adolescence or early adulthood. It is characterized by periods of depressive episodes that:

• Last months to years and are separated by period of mood stability, also lasting from months to years
• Are usually, at the early beginning, self-limited (recover without treatment or therapy)
• Usually occur spontaneously. In some cases, they may be triggered by a negative event (loss of someone, traumatic event like sexual abuse, living in a conflict area…)

Dysthymic disorder is a less frequent type. It is a low-grade depression lasting many years

A depressive episode is characterized by symptoms related to disturbances of:

• Mood: 

1. Feeling depressed, sad or unhappy
2. Loss of pleasure/interest in activities
3. Feeling of hopelessness or excessive guilt

• Thinking (cognition):

1. Diminished ability to think or concentrate
2. Suicidal thoughts/plans or talking about death

• Physical (somatic):

1. Excessive fatigue, loss of energy, slowness
2. Sleep disturbances (difficulty fallen asleep or excessive sleeping)
3. Loss of appetite and weight loss

Major Depressive Disorder begins in adolescence or early adulthood

Depression is highly suspected if:

• At least 5 symptoms are present. One mandatory symptom should be either 1. or 2. from the mood disturbances
• Symptoms must be present every day for most of the day, during at least 2 consecutives weeks
• Symptoms must not be caused by substances use (drugs), medications or a physical illness (brain trauma, tumor…)

Severe depression leads to functional impairement, social, personal and familial difficulties, and suicide.