Chapter 7, Problem 1Q

Summary Introduction

Introduction

Depression or clinical depression is characterized as a severe mood disorder that includes the symptoms of sadness, feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest in the activities that were once enjoyable, sleep disturbance, and feelings of emptiness. However, it is important to note that, at times, everyday sadness can sometimes be mistaken for clinical depression. For correct diagnosis, it is important to know the difference between the two.

Explanation of Solution

Suggested response

Everyone is bound to experience feelings of sadness at some point in their life due to a number of reasons, such as the loss of a loved one, major financial losses, or divorce. However, most of the sad and low feelings triggered by certain stressful events eventually fade. In the case of clinical depression, the feelings of sadness, if left unchecked or untreated, may persist for two weeks or more.

Another factor that differentiates usual sadness from depression is that the latter is more pervasive and causes immense distress to the sufferer. Depression disrupts the person's ability to normally function in professional and personal life.

Common depression symptoms are: sadness or empty feelings, anhedonia, trouble in falling asleep, fatigue, feeling of worthlessness, remarkable weight gain or weight loss, problems in concentrating and making decisions. A person who experiences at least five of these symptoms for more than two weeks is likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression.