Depression
Depression
The CDC describes depression as persistent sadness and sometimes irritability (particularly in children) and is one of the leading causes of disease or injury worldwide for both men and women. Depression can cause suffering for depressed individuals and can also have negative effects on their families and the communities in which they live.
According to the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, a person must experience five or more symptoms below for a continuous period of at least two weeks.2
Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable
Change in weight or appetite (either increase or decrease)
Change in activity: psychomotor agitation (being more active than usual) or psychomotor retardation (being less active than usual)
Insomnia (difficulty sleeping) or sleeping too much
Feeling tired or not having any energy
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Difficulties concentrating and paying attention
Thoughts of death or suicide.
Most symptoms must be present every day or nearly every day and must cause significant distress or problems in daily life functioning.