Internationally agreed symptoms of depression

Internationally agreed symptoms of depression

The following table lists out the internationally recognized symptoms of clinical depression:

(ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases, 10th edn, DSM-IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn)

Source: http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:8737/jn_sppe_00.pdf

It is not necessary that you'll have all these symptoms, but if you are depressed, at least some of them might ring true with you.


You may think that the root cause of depression is genetic or it is due to chemical imbalance. You are partly right! Although there is evidence that some forms of depression such as manic depression and bipolar disorder are to certain extent hereditary, they mostly have to do with styles of thinking, behavior and interpersonal relationships that are passed down in families. So far no single gene has been discovered that is believed to be responsible for depression.

Again, most depression is not due to chemical imbalance. Low serotonin levels are a result and not the cause of depression.

Drug treatment for clinical depression is alright in cases of severe depression. But this alone cannot be a long term solution. Holistic management of depression in addition to drug treatment can go a long way in fighting depression.

Reference details for Holistic Management of Depression.

1. Najman J. M., et al. Postnatal Depression - Myth and Reality: Maternal Depression Before and After the Birth of a Child. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, (2000) 35 (1): 19-27.
2. Medical Causes of Depression - (http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/dlp/depression-information/ medical-causes-of-depression-2/)
3. 3 million Australians are living with anxiety or depression - (http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=89.583&tmp=FileDownload&fid=331)
4. Palmer V, et al. Diverse voices, simple desires: a conceptual design for primary care to respond to depression and related disorders. Fam Pract. 2010 Aug;27(4):447-58.
5. Dimeo F., et al. Benefits from aerobic exercise in patients with major depression: a pilot study. Br J Sports Med. 2001 April; 35(2): 114�117.
6. Uebelacker LA, Epstein-Lubow G, Gaudiano BA, Tremont G, Battle CL, Miller IW. Hatha yoga for depression: critical review of the evidence for efficacy, plausible mechanisms of action, and directions for future research. J Psychiatr Pract. 2010 Jan;16(1):22-33.
Family therapy for depression - (http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab006728.html)
7. Mohr, D.C., Hart, S. & Vella, L. (2007) Reduction in disability in a randomised controlled trial of telephone-administered cognitive behaviour therapy. Health Psychology, 26, 554�563.
8. Chen X, Lu W, Zheng Y, Gu K, Chen Z, Zheng W, Shu XO. Exercise, tea consumption, and depression among breast cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Feb 20;28(6):991-8. Epub 2010 Jan 4.
9. H�m�l�inen J, Kaprio J, Isomets� E, Heikkinen M, Poikolainen K, Lindeman S, Aro H. Cigarette smoking, alcohol intoxication and major depressive episode in a representative population sample. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2001 Aug;55(8):573-6.
10. Yafffe, K., Blackwell, T., Gore, R., Sands, L., Reus, V., Browner, W.S. (1999). Depressive symptoms and cognitive decline is nondemented elderly women: a prospective study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(5): 425-30.
11. McCaffrey R. The effect of healing gardens and art therapy on older adults with mild to moderate depression. Holist Nurs Pract. 2007 Mar-Apr;21(2):79-84.
12. Moore KA, Blumenthal JA. Exercise training as an alternative treatment for depression among older adults. Altern Ther Health Med. 1998 Jan;4(1):48-56.
13. New studies show reduced depression with Transcendental Meditation - (http://www.physorg.com/news189864285.html)
14. Postnatal Depression - (http://www.herbs2000.com/disorders/postnatal_depr.htm)
15. Makrides M, Crowther CA, Gibson RA, Gibson RS, Skeaff CM. Docosahexaenoic acid and post-partum depression-is there a link? Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2003;12 Suppl:S37.
16. Depression in Children and Adolescents - (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696739/pdf/ Dtsch_Arztebl_Int-105-0149.pdf)
17. When Are Antidepressants Better Than Psychotherapy?- (http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/TherapyVsRx.htm)
18. Exercise for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in children and young people - (http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004691.html)

Cite this Article ⇣⇡

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

• APA

  Mita Majumdar. (2023, June 10). Internationally agreed symptoms of depression. Medindia. Retrieved on Jan 28, 2025 from https://www.medindia.net/health/lifestyle/holistic-management-for-depression-internationally-agreed.htm.

• MLA

  Mita Majumdar. "Internationally agreed symptoms of depression". Medindia. Jan 28, 2025. <https://www.medindia.net/health/lifestyle/holistic-management-for-depression-internationally-agreed.htm>.

• Chicago

  Mita Majumdar. "Internationally agreed symptoms of depression". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/lifestyle/holistic-management-for-depression-internationally-agreed.htm. (accessed Jan 28, 2025).

• Harvard

  Mita Majumdar. 2023. Internationally agreed symptoms of depression. Medindia, viewed Jan 28, 2025, https://www.medindia.net/health/lifestyle/holistic-management-for-depression-internationally-agreed.htm.