Depression.
What Is Depression?
Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a mood disorder that makes you feel constant sadness or lack of interest in life.
Most people feel sad or depressed at times. It’s a normal reaction to loss of life's challenges. But when intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- lasts for many days to weeks and keeps you from living your life, it may be something more than sadness. You could have clinical depression, a treatable medical condition.
Depression Symptoms.
According to the DSM-5, manual doctors use to diagnose mental disorders, you have depression when you have five or more of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks:
- Your mood is depressed for most of the day, especially in the morning.
- You feel tired or have a lack of energy almost every day.
- You feel worthless or guilty almost every day.
- You feel hopeless or pessimistic.
- You have a hard time focusing, remembering details, and making decisions.
- You can’t sleep, or you sleep too much almost every day.
- You have almost no interest or pleasure in many activities nearly every day.
- You think often about death or suicide (not just a fear of death).
- You feel restless or slowed down.
- You’ve lost or gained weight.
Depression Diagnosis.
- Physical exam. Your doctor will check on your overall health to see if you might be dealing with another condition.
- Lab tests. For example, you may have bloodwork done to check on certain hormone levels.
- Psychiatric evaluation. Your doctor will be interested in your mental health and will ask about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns. You may also fill out a questionnaire.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The American Psychiatric Association lists the criteria for depression in this manual. Your doctor may check your symptoms against it to see if you fit the standard.
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