Depression is quite troubling for human beings. More than a million people every year are affected by depression. The affects of depression may vary according to the types of depression. The most troubling forms of depression are major depression, clinical depression or chronic depression. The criteria for diagnosis for depression depend upon the signs and symptoms of depression. The criteria to diagnose severe depression are different than the criteria to diagnose mild depression. Therefore it is very necessary to first identify the symptoms and then diagnosis the type. Following are the signs and symptoms that most of the specialists are looking for in the diagnostic criteria for major depression.

For the diagnosis of Major depression, a person has to exhibit five to six of the following symptoms for more than two weeks.

1. Sadness, irritation, or anger the whole day, you feel disturbed all the time.

2. You might put on or lose a significant amount of weight in only a few days.

3. Your diet is affected and you usually suffer from eating disorders as well.

4. Loss of interest in all sorts of activities that gave you pleasure in the past. You would not even like to talk about your favorite activities.

5. It has been noticed that people suffering from depression mentally dull almost everyday. As a result, the sufferer is not able to perform daily duties and life comes to a stand still for them.

6. Fatigue or loss of energy almost entire day.

7. One big symptom is negative thoughts. Negative thoughts become a permanent part of your thinking. Even positive things appear negative to you.

8. Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and guilt occur in your mind on regular basis.

9. Suicidal thoughts are also one of the biggest symptoms of major depression.

10. Sleeping problems such as insomnia and hypomania. Both are sleeping disorders that cause too much or too little sleep.

11. Physical problems such as stomach pain, pain in the chest and headache is also another symptom. Consider this one as a symptom if the pain persists for more than two weeks.

Other things the specialist will look for are:

A. They also make sure that the symptoms do not meet the criteria of mixed episodes.

B. The symptoms of depression that cause significant amount of stress at job, social life or friendship.

C. Specialists also make sure that the symptoms are not due to drug abuse or any other medicine.

D. That the symptoms are not because of grief. For example, after a death of loved ones, the symptoms may continue for more than month or two. They also make sure that symptoms are not due to any physical impairment. These symptoms are not considered for diagnosis criteria because these symptoms automatically disappear with the passage of time.

Diagnosis needs to be done if you find more than five to six of the above symptoms lasting for more than two weeks. After proper diagnosis the proper treatment method needs to be administered o be cured of depression.

Related posts:

1. Dsm – Diagnosis Depression
2. How Do You Get A Depression Diagnosis?
3. Relationship Between Alcoholism and Depression
4. Eating Disorder with Depression
5. Understanding Depression