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Internationally agreed symptoms of depression


Internationally agreed symptoms of depression

The following table lists out the internationally recognized symptoms of clinical depression:

SymptomsICD-10DSM-IV


TypicalOtherMainOther
Depressed mood
Loss of enjoyment
Less energy
Less concentration
Less self-esteem
Guilt/unworthiness
Pessimism
Ideas/acts of self-harm
Disturbed sleep
Disturbed appetite
Weight loss/gain
Restless/agitation

(ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases, 10th edn, DSM-IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn)

Source: http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:8737/jn_sppe_00.pdf

It is not necessary that you’ll have all these symptoms, but if you are depressed, at least some of them might ring true with you.

You may think that the root cause of depression is genetic or it is due to chemical imbalance. You are partly right! Although there is evidence that some forms of depression such as manic depression and bipolar disorder are to certain extent hereditary, they mostly have to do with styles of thinking, behavior and interpersonal relationships that are passed down in families. So far no single gene has been discovered that is believed to be responsible for depression.

Again, most depression is not due to chemical imbalance. Low serotonin levels are a result and not the cause of depression.

Drug treatment for clinical depression is alright in cases of severe depression. But this alone cannot be a long term solution. Holistic management of depression in addition to drug treatment can go a long way in fighting depression.

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