Depression is a human experience that has various forms. In its more subtle form, depression is a feeling of sadness, most often related to loss or sense of helplessness about a particular event. Moderately intense experiences of depression often involve biological, psychological and social elements. Depression can be assessed using responses to a questionnaire or a rating scale.
Symptoms:
A period of at least 2 weeks, in which at least five of the following symptoms are present most of the day, nearly every day, and of which at least one is the first or second listed symptoms:
- Sadness (or irritability in children)
- Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
- Changes in appetite (increased or decreased) or weight change
- Disturbed sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia)
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation (pacing, tapping, fast talking, or slowed physical or emotional reactions)
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of guilt, self-blame
- Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
- Thinking about or planning suicide or suicidal behavior. (Dobson, Dozois)
What causes Depression?
