What Is a Major Depressive Episode?
What Is a Major Depressive Episode?Answer: A Major Depressive Episode, according to the DSM-IV, is not a disorder in itself, but is a part of another disorder, most often Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder. A person who suffers from a Major Depressive Episode must either have a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities consistently for at least a two week period. This mood must represent a change from the person’s normal mood; social, occupational, educational or other important functioning must also be negatively impaired by the change in mood. A Major Depressive Episode is characterized by the presence of a majority of these symptoms: • Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). (In children and adolescents, this may be characterized as an irritable mood.) • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost al
