Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.
‣Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
‣Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
‣Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
‣A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
‣Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
‣Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
‣Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
‣Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
