Problem 2: Blue and Beyond
Depressive disorders are diagnosed when the patient suffers from a depressed mood but no
mania. Bipolar Disorders on the other hand, require both at least one depressive and at least
one manic or hypomanic episode to have occurred to be diagnosed.
Signs of depression:
Mood → A person suffering from a depressive disorder will have a depressed mood
disproportionate to any cause for most of the time. They will lack motivation and likely feel
anhedonia, an inability to enjoy once pleasurable activities.
Behaviour → Patients often have psychomotor retardation or agitation, either very slow
movement or feelings of anxious restlessness. Additionally, many individuals fluctuate in their
appetite & sleep. Therefore, they gain or lose weight and can be insomniacs or hypersomniacs.
Cognition → Depression can elicit thoughts of worthlessness and helplessness. The person
can then develop a negative view of their self and the world around them, landing them in a
negative feedback loop. They can experience trouble in concentrating and decision making and
often face difficulties in maintaining employment and relationships. In severe cases, the sufferer
can have suicidal thoughts and negative delusions or hallucinations about themselves or the
world.
The two most common forms of depression are Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). For a diagnosis of MDD, the patient must suffer from
symptoms for at least 2 weeks, and for PDD the symptoms must persist for at least 2 years.
When MDD is diagnosed and has been persistent for 2 years, the diagnosis becomes one of
PDD.
Note: In children and adolescents the individual must have depressive symptoms for at least 1
year to constitute a PDD diagnosis.
Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD) is another depressive disorder, which appears in
individuals according to changes in daylight. To make a diagnosis of SAD the patient must
experience depressive symptoms during months with less sunlight and is symptom-free in the
months where daylight lasts for longer, for at least 2 years.
Depressive disorders are diagnosed when the patient suffers from a depressed mood but no
mania. Bipolar Disorders on the other hand, require both at least one depressive and at least
one manic or hypomanic episode to have occurred to be diagnosed.
Signs of depression:
Mood → A person suffering from a depressive disorder will have a depressed mood
disproportionate to any cause for most of the time. They will lack motivation and likely feel
anhedonia, an inability to enjoy once pleasurable activities.
Behaviour → Patients often have psychomotor retardation or agitation, either very slow
movement or feelings of anxious restlessness. Additionally, many individuals fluctuate in their
appetite & sleep. Therefore, they gain or lose weight and can be insomniacs or hypersomniacs.
Cognition → Depression can elicit thoughts of worthlessness and helplessness. The person
can then develop a negative view of their self and the world around them, landing them in a
negative feedback loop. They can experience trouble in concentrating and decision making and
often face difficulties in maintaining employment and relationships. In severe cases, the sufferer
can have suicidal thoughts and negative delusions or hallucinations about themselves or the
world.
The two most common forms of depression are Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). For a diagnosis of MDD, the patient must suffer from
symptoms for at least 2 weeks, and for PDD the symptoms must persist for at least 2 years.
When MDD is diagnosed and has been persistent for 2 years, the diagnosis becomes one of
PDD.
Note: In children and adolescents the individual must have depressive symptoms for at least 1
year to constitute a PDD diagnosis.
Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD) is another depressive disorder, which appears in
individuals according to changes in daylight. To make a diagnosis of SAD the patient must
experience depressive symptoms during months with less sunlight and is symptom-free in the
months where daylight lasts for longer, for at least 2 years.
