Symptoms & Diagnosis of Depression
Symptoms of depression include:
depressed mood (that is,
feeling 'low') and/or…
a loss of pleasure or
interest in usual activities
A patient with depression will also have experienced
at least four of the following symptoms which are
a change from normal behaviour and have been present
for at least two weeks:
appetite disturbance or
change in weight
sleep disturbance
restlessness and agitation,
or physically slowing down
tiredness and loss of
energy
feelings of worthlessness,
guilt or shame
inability to concentrate
or make decisions
thoughts of death or suicide
Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person.
Most people experience a loss of sleep, with difficulty
getting to sleep, waking through the night and waking
in the early hours of the morning. Reduced appetite
and weight loss are also usual. However, some people
with depression are drained of energy and want to
sleep a lot, often sleeping through the day, and
have an increased appetite with weight gain.
