What are the characteristics of depression?

Nowadays, many people often suffer from depression. Depression may mean that there are problems with the patient's body and condition, so everyone must receive effective control and treatment as soon as possible. Generally, depression will mainly manifest as low mood, miserable days, slow thinking and bad mood.

Typical symptoms

1. Low mood is mainly manifested as significant and persistent low emotions, depression and pessimism. In mild cases, people feel unhappy, have no sense of pleasure, and have a loss of interest. In severe cases, people feel extremely distressed, pessimistic and hopeless, and feel that each day is like a year worse than death. The depressed mood of typical patients has a rhythmic change from heavier in the morning to lighter at night. 2. Slow thinking: Clinically, it can be seen that there is a decrease in active speech, a significantly slower speaking speed, a deep voice, and difficulty in answering. In severe cases, communication cannot proceed smoothly. 3. Decreased volitional activity Clinical manifestations include slow behavior, passive and lazy life, unwillingness to do things, unwillingness to contact and interact with people around, and avoidance of socializing. In severe cases, they even ignore physiological needs such as eating and drinking and personal hygiene, and even develop into a state of silence, immobility, and refusal to eat, which is called "depressive stupor". Severe patients are often accompanied by negative suicidal ideas or behaviors.

Other symptoms

Some patients also have cognitive impairment, such as decreased recent memory, attention disorder, prolonged reaction time; as well as physical symptoms, such as sleep disorders, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation, etc.

Diagnosis

The current internationally accepted diagnostic standards are ICD-10 and DSM-IV. ICD-10 is mainly used in China. Patients usually have typical symptoms such as low mood, loss of interest and pleasure, lack of energy or fatigue.