The clinical characteristics of clinical depression

Question 1

According to the ICD, there are three main grades of depression: mild,
moderate and severe.

How does the ICD defines someone suffering from a depressed mood

Answer 1

The ICD defines someone suffering from a depressed mood as having ‘loss of
interest and enjoyment, and reduced energy leading to increased fatigability
and diminished activity. Marked tiredness after only slight effort is common’.
Two of these symptoms, as well as two from the list below, should generally be
present for a diagnosis.

The patient suffers from:
lowered mood
reduction in energy, and decrease in activity
reduction in capacity for enjoyment, interest, and concentration
marked tiredness after even minimum effort
disturbed sleep
diminished appetite

Question 2

Diagnosis

Answer 2

Diagnosis
For all three grades (mild, moderate or severe), diagnosis is usually given if
symptoms persist for more than two weeks for most of every day, but may be
less if the symptoms come on very suddenly and are severe.