What is Depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. According to the latest results of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2018), 17.7 million (7.2%) of American adults experienced a major depressive episode. There are many symptoms that could indicate an individual is experiencing a depressive episode.

According to the DSM-V, which is the diagnostic tool used by professionals in the mental health field to identify disorders, a depressive episode is defined by nine distinct criteria. For a person to be diagnosed they would need to meet at least five of the criteria for at least two weeks.

Criteria:

1. Depressed Mood
2. Noticeably diminished interest in activities formerly enjoyed
3. Lack of sleep or oversleeping
4. Increase or decrease in movement noticed by others (Note: Changes must be noticed by other people)
5. Decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
6. Fatigue or loss of energy most of the time nearly every day
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive inappropriate guilt most of the day nearly every day
8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness nearly every day
9. Preoccupation with death (not just fear of death), along with recurrent suicidal thoughts without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or specific plan for committing suicide