Depression Criteria Mnemonic

Mnemonic: DEPRESSION

Major symptoms

1. Depressed mood
2. Energy loss or fatigue
3. Pleasure loss or anhedonia

Minor symptoms

1. Retardation or agitation (psychomotor)
2. Eating and weight change (at least 5% in the last month)
3. Sleep changed – insomnia or hypersomnia
4. Suicidial ideation or behavior
5. I‘m a failure (Loss of confidence or self-esteem)
6. Only me to blame (guilt)
7. No concentration, Indecisiveness or inability to think

General criteria for a depressive episode

1. Duration: ≥2 weeks
2. Organic causes must be excluded: not attributable to the abuse of psychoactive substances or to an organic mental disorder.

Types of Depression

1. Mild depression: with or without somatic symptoms

• 2 Major + 2 Minor

2. Moderate depression: with or without somatic symptoms

• 2 Major + >2 Minor

3. Severe depression: with or without psychotic symptoms

• 3 Major + >3 Minor

ICD-10 criteria vs DSM-V criteria for Depression

While ICD-1o criteria recognizes loss of energy or fatigue as a major or key symptoms, DSM-V doesn’t recognize it as a key symptom. Hence, DSM-V has only 2 key symptoms.

“Loss of confidence or reduced self-esteem” is not there in DSM-V criteria.

For diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode by DSM-V any 5 of the symptoms must be present with atleast 1 of the 2 key symptoms in same 2 week period (as in ICD-10).