From the Guidelines
The classic symptoms of depression include persistent sadness or low mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, fatigue or low energy, changes in appetite and weight, sleep disturbances, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, psychomotor agitation or retardation, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. For a clinical diagnosis, these symptoms typically need to be present for at least two weeks and cause significant distress or impairment in functioning, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association 1. Depression symptoms often manifest physically as well, with headaches, digestive problems, and chronic pain being common. The severity can range from mild to severe, with more severe cases potentially including psychotic features like delusions or hallucinations.
Some key symptoms to look out for include:
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in most activities most of the day
- Significant weight loss or gain or appetite disturbance
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
- Inappropriate guilt
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness
- Recurring thoughts of death, including suicidal ideation, as outlined in the American College of Physicians guideline 1.
It's essential to note that depression results from a complex interaction of biological factors, genetic predisposition, environmental stressors, and psychological factors. If experiencing these symptoms, it's crucial to seek professional help from a healthcare provider who can provide appropriate assessment and treatment options, as recommended by the American College of Physicians 1.
Given the complexity of depression and its varying presentations, a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment is necessary, considering the latest evidence and guidelines from reputable sources, such as the American Psychiatric Association 1 and the American College of Physicians 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
A major depressive episode (DSM–IV) implies a prominent and relatively persistent (nearly every day for at least 2 weeks) depressed or dysphoric mood that usually interferes with daily functioning, and includes at least 5 of the following 9 symptoms: depressed mood, loss of interest in usual activities, significant change in weight and/or appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, increased fatigue, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, slowed thinking or impaired concentration, a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation.
The classic symptoms of depression include:
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Significant change in weight and/or appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
- Increased fatigue
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Slowed thinking or impaired concentration
- A suicide attempt or suicidal ideation 2
From the Research
Classic Symptoms of Depression
The classic symptoms of depression can be summarized as follows:
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
- Significant weight loss or gain, or decreased or increased appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
- Poor concentration or indecisiveness
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt 3
Associated Symptoms
In addition to the classic symptoms, people with depression may also experience:
- Reduced quality of life due to the disorder itself, as well as related medical comorbidities, social factors, and impaired functional outcomes 4
- Alterations in thought, motor activity, somatic sensations, and social relationships 5
- Delusional thought patterns in severe cases 5
- Anxiety, neurocognitive and sexual dysfunction 6
- Sleep disturbance 6
Symptom Clusters
Depression can be conceptualized as occurring on a continuum from mild to severe, with different symptom clusters: