DIAGNOSING DEPRESSION
(Most common signs and symptoms of depression)
I. Personal views of depressed individuals
a. Views themselves as unworthy.
b. Usually overwhelmed by guilt.
c. No future or hope for change.
II. Other common signs
a. Frequent crying spells.
b. Loss of interest in life and maintainence of personal appearance
c. An individual’s facial affect can be incongruent to one’s inner feelings.
III. Common Assumed Physiological Symptoms
a. Premature downregulation of norephinephrine transmitter by MOA reuptake action
b. Similar down-regulation of serotonin neurotransmitter
c. Possible glucose or hormone dysregulation
IV. Sometimes depression is confused with grief
V. Common Precursors to depression
a. Familial physical predisposition
b. Familial behavioral patterns
c. Psychosocial stressors
VI. Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (DSM
a. Depressed Mood
b. Marked diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities of the day
c. Significant weight loss or weight gain
d. Insomnia or hypersomnia
e. Psychomotor agitation or retardation
f. Fatigue or loss of energy
g. Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions
h. Thought rumination or suicidal thinking
i. Rule outs
i. Incongruent differential physiological diagnosis
ii. Normal grieving process
iii. Delusional symptoms incongruent of clinical depression diagnosis
j. Other dysfunctions that also result in depression
i. Lack of intimacy
ii. Lack of spiritual intimacy
iii. Lack of self-esteem