DSM-IV Criteria for Depression

According to the DSM-IV (the manual used by mental health professionals for diagnosing), the following are criteria, or symptoms, of a Major Depressive episode. In order to qualify as a diagnosis, these need to persist for a period of two weeks or more. One of the first two listed symptoms needs to be present in addition to four of the others. The mood needs to be present for most of the day every day of the two week period. If you are experiencing these please do yourself a favor and get the help you need and deserve. If you want to join our support group to talk with others with depression please click here. In addition to these symptoms being present, there needs to be significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of one's life.

• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" moods (depressed mood)*
• A loss of interest or pleasure in most activities
• Restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism
• Sleeping too much or too little, early morning awakening
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Persistent physical symptoms that don't respond to treatment such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

  *In children or adolescents, the persistent mood may be irritability instead of sadness

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