General Information on Depression
One of the most prevalent forms of psychological distress, depression touches millions of lives across the world.
Here you can find general information on clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders, as well as descriptions of the symptoms employed by psychiatrists in making a diagnosis.
According to the Merck Manual, mood disorders “are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, accounting for 25% of patients in public mental institutions, 65% of psychiatric outpatients, and as many as 10% of all patients seen in nonpsychiatric medical settings”; moreover, some type of mood disturbance will affect some 20% of women and 12% of men during their lifetime (figures from Merck Manual, chapter 189).
The NIMH estimates that nearly 19 million US adults will experience a depressive disorder in a given year, breaking down the numbers for US citizens over 18 as follows:
The DSM specifies mood disorders under the following main headings:
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It also includes classifications for mood disorders which result directly from a general medical condition or from exposure to chemicals or medications, and a catch-all category for disorders which do not fit the other categories.
Clinical diagnoses of mood disorders refer to the presence or absence of so-called ‘mood episodes’, including:
These ‘episodes’ are not diagnosed separately, but rather serve as the components for diagnosis of the actual disorders.
One of the most prevalent forms of psychological distress, depression touches millions of lives across the world.
Because the lists of symptoms for major depressive, manic, hypomanic and mixed episodes play closely interrelated roles in the diagnosis of mood disorders, all are included here separately.
The formal diagnosis of cyclothymia, or Cyclothymic Disorder, rests on these symptoms, which can be evaluated by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
The formal diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (clinical depression) rests on these symptoms, which can be evaluated by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
The formal diagnosis of dysthymia, or Dysthymic Disorder, rests on these symptoms, which can be evaluated by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
The formal diagnosis of manic depression, or Bipolar Disorder, rests on these symptoms, which can be evaluated by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
All clinical material on this site is peer reviewed by one or more qualified mental health professionals. This specific article was originally published by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on .
on and was last reviewed or updated byOur material is not intended as a substitute for direct consultation with a qualified mental health professional. Please seek professional advice if you are experiencing any mental health concern.