According to Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D., a psychiatrist with the Mayo Clinic, doctors use the term "clinical depression" to describe the more severe type of depression also known as "major depression." Clinical depression is a serious illness that manifests itself in several ways and generally requires some type of intervention. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), clinical depression is diagnosed when five or more criteria are met during the same two-week period.
Mood
The person or others notes a depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day. This is typically the most common feature of clinical depression. A person states that he has feelings of emptiness or sadness. Often he may find himself feeling tearful for no obvious reason to himself or others.
Daily Activities
Finding joy and pleasure in normal daily activities is markedly diminished when a person is suffering from clinical depression. Things she used to enjoy doing, such as exercising, going to the movies or visiting friends have now become burdensome and are often avoided.
Appetite
A gain or loss of more than five percent of body weight in a month's time is often a feature of clinical depression. Some individuals find themselves losing interest in food and eating, often having to force themselves to eat. Others are confronted with the opposite issue as they begin to crave certain foods, thereby increasing their body weight.
Sleep Changes
Insomnia is a common feature of clinical depression. This may involve difficulty in falling asleep initially, nightly waking, difficulty in returning to sleep once awakened and waking too early. Less commonly found in clinical depression is oversleeping, which is described as sleeping too much either at night or during the day.
Psychomotor Changes
Psychomotor agitation can best be described as feelings of restlessness. The person can be observed unable to sit still, pacing or wringing his hands. Alternatively, psychomotor retardation would be described as a slowing of speech, body movements, speech that is lowered in volume, amount or variety.
Change in Energy Level
A person with clinical depression will often state that she feels constantly tired and has little to no energy. She make take exceedingly long to perform simple tasks such as bathing, dressing and cooking.
Self-Esteem
Clinical depression may manifest itself as feeling worthless and having a poor self-image. The person may take insignificant events that are usually meaningless and instead feel overcome by unfounded guilt and personal responsibility about them.
Changes in Concentration
An inability to focus, make decisions or concentrate are often reported by individuals suffering from clinical depression. Changes in memory are sometimes noted as well. These symptoms can be especially difficult for those in occupations that require concentration and focus.
Suicide
Clinical depression is often characterized by thoughts of death and dying, suicidal thoughts and/or suicidal attempts. These thoughts or actions are often motivated by the desire to end the suffering or by feelings that the world would be better off without them.
References
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
- Mayo Clinic: Major Depression
