DEPRESSION - COMMON OR CLINICAL

COMMON DEPRESSION or CLINICAL DEPRESSION

Symptom                                                                                                            Depression         Clinical Depression

Is the cause of the depression known & situational?                                    Yes                         No

Is the cause of the depression vague & hard to pin down?                          No                          Yes

Does it involve sadness or “blues”?                                                         Always                 Not Always

Has the depression lasted longer than 2 weeks?                                              No                          Yes

Are there problems with distorted thinking or false

      assumptions, sleep changes, general aches & pains,

      Diarrhea, that are not readily explained by a

      Current illness?                                                                                          No                          Yes

Has a major life change occurred recently?                                         Possibly                          Possibly

Is fatigue a serious factor even though there seems to

      be no medical reason and there is adequate rest?                            No                          Yes

Have sleep patterns changed over time?                                                    No                          Yes

Are major appetite changes involved over time?                                      No                          Yes

Is it harder to make decisions?                                                                  No                          Yes

Is it harder to remember things?  Is confusion involved?                          No                          Yes

Is it harder to find pleasure or interest in life                                     Possibly                               Yes