Symptoms of depression

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Please provide brief medical history and symptoms of the patient. I usually reply to patient specific queries than general ones.

Depression can have varied symptoms and presentation. Sometimes it might not be obvious at all. The major depressive symptoms are however easily identified. The DSM-IV-TR criteria gives the simplest and accurate definition for depression.

Major depression — A major depressive syndrome or episode manifests with five or more of the following symptoms, present most of the day nearly every day for a minimum of two consecutive weeks. At least one symptom is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure.

Depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all activities
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Change in appetite or weight
Psychomotor retardation or agitation
Low energy
Poor concentration
Thoughts of worthlessness or guilt
Recurrent thoughts about death or suicide

Conceptually these symptoms may be grouped as disturbances in:

Emotions (depressed mood, loss of interests or pleasure)
Ideation (worthlessness or guilt, death or suicide)
Neurovegetative or somatic symptoms (sleep, appetite or weight, energy, psychomotor, concentration)

Please note, this is only about major depression. Discussing complete depression symptoms is beyond the scope of this consultation.

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