The diagnostic criteria for major depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), require the presence of either sadness or anhedonia with a total of five or more symptoms over a 2-week period.
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder
Five or more of the following symptoms must be present nearly every day during a 2-wk period:
Core symptoms (>/= 1 required for diagnosis)
- Depressed mood most of the day
- Anhedonia or markedly decreased interest or pleasure in almost all activities
Additional symptoms
- Clinically significant weight loss or increase or decrease in appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
References:
- Taylor WD. Clinical practice. Depression in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 2014 Sep 25;371(13):1228-36. [Medline]
- Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed. rev.: DSM-V. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
This material was taken from the DSM-5. It is intended for educational purposes only.
Created Nov 03, 2014.
