Depression: Symptoms, Forms, and When Urgent Help Is Needed

Depression is not a bad mood lasting a couple of days. It is a serious mood disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and lives, and in which even ordinary tasks — sleeping, eating, working — can become difficult. Low mood persists for weeks or months and interferes with daily life.

Which symptoms indicate depression

Manifestations vary from person to person: their type and number vary, and depression does not always look like sadness. Symptoms are persistent and affect daily life. Among them: depressed, "empty" mood; loss of interest in favorite activities; overeating or lack of appetite; sleeping too much or too little; severe fatigue; feelings of hopelessness, irritability, anxiety, or guilt; pain, headaches, cramps, digestive problems; thoughts of death or suicide; changes in mood and behavior; increased alcohol or drug use; isolation from family and friends.

How a doctor distinguishes forms of depression

There is no separate staging scale as with a cold. To make a diagnosis, a doctor relies on criteria: symptoms must be present nearly all day, nearly every day, and for at least two weeks, and one of them must be depressed mood or loss of interest in most activities. The diagnosis is made by a doctor, not by an internet test.

The most common is major depressive disorder: depressed mood or loss of interest, symptoms affect daily activities and last at least two weeks.

Persistent form

In persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), symptoms are less pronounced but last longer — usually at least two years. This is not the same as a "mild degree": it refers to lower severity of symptoms and their duration.

Severe depression and psychotic symptoms

Severe forms are described by the depressive triad: lowered mood, slowed thinking, and motor retardation. Depression with psychotic symptoms is distinguished separately — a severe form in which delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (a person sees, hears, or feels things that are not there) occur.

• depressive triad: lowered mood, slowed thinking, motor retardation
• delusions and hallucinations in the psychotic form
• thoughts of death or suicide
• symptoms affect daily life

How the condition is assessed

For screening, self-assessment tests are used — for example, the Zung scale or the Beck Depression Inventory. This is an initial check, not a diagnosis. Next comes a conversation with a doctor: they ask about symptoms and family history. They order an examination and tests to rule out other causes: some diseases, such as thyroid disorders, and certain medications produce a similar picture. Mental status is assessed separately.

When urgent help is needed

Seeking help at the first signs helps manage symptoms. Depression often requires long-term treatment, which is selected by a doctor.

Depression itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. Call 103 or 112 if the person talks about thoughts of suicide or suicidal tendencies, as well as with hallucinations or delusions.

This text is for reference. It does not replace a doctor's consultation and does not make a diagnosis: consult a specialist about your condition.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer