During a depressive episode, patients may experience core symptoms such as depressed mood, diminished interest, and lack of pleasure. It may also be accompanied by additional psychological and physical symptoms such as slowed thinking, impaired cognitive function, negative cognition, sleep disturbance, and eating disorders.
I. Core symptoms.
1. depressed mood: patients have significant and persistent symptoms of depressed mood and depression and pessimism, which may be manifested as frowning and long sighs, and generally do not change with changes in the external environment.
2. diminished interest: loss of interest or decline in interest in various activities or things that used to be enjoyed, and lack of motivation to do anything.
3. Lack of pleasure: not being able to experience pleasure from daily activities, and not experiencing pleasure even when doing things they used to enjoy.
In addition, some patients may also show abnormalities such as easy exertion and reduced energy during activities.
II. Additional symptoms.
1. reduced attention, slowed thinking, and memory loss.
2. low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence.
3. feeling worthless and uncared for, and blaming and guilting oneself for this.
4. a bleak and pessimistic view of the future and a loss of confidence in the future
5. Self-injurious or suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
6. sleep disorders, difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, etc.
7. loss of appetite, loss of taste and appetite.
ICD-11 is divided into three types according to the severity of depression: mild, moderate and severe.
1. mild depression: with at least 2 core symptoms and 2 additional symptoms, and the patient has some difficulties in daily work and social activities, with mild effects on their social functioning.
2. moderate depression: with at least 2 core symptoms and 3 (preferably 4) additional symptoms, and the patient has considerable difficulty in dealing with work, social or life
3. major depression: the presence of all 3 core symptoms and the presence of at least 4 additional symptoms, and the patient’s basic inability to work, socialize and live
4. depression with psychotic symptoms: meeting the dispute criteria for moderate and severe depressive episodes and the presence of symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and depressive malaise. Delusions generally involve notions of self-sin, poverty, or imminent disaster, and the patient believes himself or herself to be responsible for the disaster that befalls him or her; hallucinations are mostly auditory and olfactory, with auditory hallucinations commonly being denigrating or accusatory sounds and olfactory hallucinations mostly being the smell of foul and rotting flesh.
When depression strikes, the patient may really be unable to control his emotions, and his body is like being put in chains, just like falling into a bottomless black hole, struggling countless times and sinking countless times. Therefore, I hope people around me can be more understanding, encouraging, accompanying and helping in the face of depression.
And if an individual has the above symptoms of depressive episodes and does not improve after making efforts to adjust, please seek professional medical help as soon as possible; patients who find their depressive symptoms have worsened and seriously affected their normal life need to review them in time and adjust their treatment plan if necessary.