Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWith MDDCharacteristicsCausesHospitalizationTreatmentsMedicationsMedication AdjustmentsSelf-CareComplementary TherapiesSupport and Resources
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
With MDD
Characteristics
Causes
Hospitalization
Treatments
Medications
Medication Adjustments
Self-Care
Complementary Therapies
Support and Resources
Everyone has off days. When you feel off more than on, this could be a sign of a bigger problem. About 10% of all people experiencedepressionin their lifetime, but a clinical depression diagnosis requires you to meet a particular set of criteria.Diagnosing depression can be tricky since it is based on what you feel or experience instead of what your healthcare provider can observe or touch.
This article will explore how clinical depression is diagnosed, who you should see for care, and available treatment options.
Milamai / Getty Images
Mood Disorders
Depression
Clinical Depression and MDD: One and the Same, or Different?
“Clinical depression” and “major depressive disorder” (MDD)are different names for the same condition. Mental healthcare providers use an established set of screenings outlined in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5)to help categorize specific mental health issues and standardize the diagnosis process.
These tools aim to offer a template to your healthcare provider to help you get the proper care and treatment and—if you have health insurance—to make sure your insurance provider covers it.
What Is Depression?Depressionis an ongoing feeling of negativity, sadness, or despair. Everyone experiences times in which they feel sad, but not everyone who feels sad has depression. Clinical depression is a consistent dark mood or feeling that can affect your interests, relationships, and activities on a daily basis.
What Is Depression?
Depressionis an ongoing feeling of negativity, sadness, or despair. Everyone experiences times in which they feel sad, but not everyone who feels sad has depression. Clinical depression is a consistent dark mood or feeling that can affect your interests, relationships, and activities on a daily basis.
How Signs of Depression Feel and Look
Characteristics of Clinical Depression Episodes
Symptomsof depression can vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe, and may include the following:
Typically, for a healthcare provider to officially diagnose you with clinical depression, these symptoms need to be significant enough that the people around you begin to notice, and your symptoms last longer than two weeks and adversely affect your ability to carry out your daily routine.
Diagnosing DepressionUnder DSM-5 criteria, a clinical depression, or MDD, diagnosis requires that you experience five or more symptoms of depression for two weeks or more. One of those symptoms should be either a depressed mood or a loss of pleasure in things you once enjoyed.Your primary healthcare provider may diagnose clinical depression and refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for further diagnosis and support.
Diagnosing Depression
Under DSM-5 criteria, a clinical depression, or MDD, diagnosis requires that you experience five or more symptoms of depression for two weeks or more. One of those symptoms should be either a depressed mood or a loss of pleasure in things you once enjoyed.Your primary healthcare provider may diagnose clinical depression and refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for further diagnosis and support.
Under DSM-5 criteria, a clinical depression, or MDD, diagnosis requires that you experience five or more symptoms of depression for two weeks or more. One of those symptoms should be either a depressed mood or a loss of pleasure in things you once enjoyed.
Your primary healthcare provider may diagnose clinical depression and refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for further diagnosis and support.
What Is Atypical Depression?
Factors That Affect Clinical Depression Symptoms
Your physical health, gender, socioeconomic status, employment, age, and other factors can impact the type and severity of your depression symptoms.Some medical conditions can cause or coexist with depression, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider when you experience depression symptoms.
There isn’t an established scale in the DSM-5 to assignlevels of depression. Still, there are other clinical tools, such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS or HAM-D), used to differentiate between mild and severe clinical depression.
Depending on your situation and the duration and frequency of symptoms, a diagnosis may specify the type of depression you are experiencing. Examples of categories or subtypes of depression include the following:
The Link Between Depression and PainChronic pain can cause you to feel down or depressed, while depression can causephysical symptomsof pain and discomfort, creating a feedback loop.If you experience pain alongside symptoms of depression, talk to your primary or mental healthcare provider. It’s important to rule out any conditions or problems that might be occurring along with your depression, chronic pain, or other illnesses.
The Link Between Depression and Pain
Chronic pain can cause you to feel down or depressed, while depression can causephysical symptomsof pain and discomfort, creating a feedback loop.If you experience pain alongside symptoms of depression, talk to your primary or mental healthcare provider. It’s important to rule out any conditions or problems that might be occurring along with your depression, chronic pain, or other illnesses.
Chronic pain can cause you to feel down or depressed, while depression can causephysical symptomsof pain and discomfort, creating a feedback loop.
If you experience pain alongside symptoms of depression, talk to your primary or mental healthcare provider. It’s important to rule out any conditions or problems that might be occurring along with your depression, chronic pain, or other illnesses.
What Does Endogenous Depression Mean?
Clinical Depression Hospitalization
Being under the regular care of a healthcare or mental health professional will help you manage clinical depression continuously. Still, there are times when your symptoms might become worse than usual. When depression symptoms intensify and put you or others at risk for harm or affect your ability to care for yourself or others, it’s called a mental health crisis.
There is no black-and-white guide to qualifying for hospitalization for depression. If your symptoms are not improving—or worsening—even with treatment, you may consider admission to a hospital or psychiatric facility.
If you experience symptoms that leave you unable to function or causethoughts of suicideor self-harm, seek immediate care. There are many mental health crisis facilities available nationally, including:
Emergency Mental Healthcare
What Treatments Are Available for Clinical Depression?
Many medications are available to help treat depression and other mental health symptoms. Those will be discussed more below, but your healthcare provider may recommend that you start treatment with some nonpharmaceutical options like:
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Depression
Clinical Depression Medications
Most medications used to treat depression are started at a low dose, which is increased over time under a healthcare provider’s supervision, until the desired effect is achieved.
Never discontinue or change the dosage of your prescription medications without talking to a healthcare provider first. You should also ensure your healthcare provider knows about other drugs or substances you use to avoid unintentional side effects.
Commonly Prescribed AntidepressantsMany medications are used as antidepressants. Examples of some you may see prescribed are:Celexa (citalopram)Klonopin (clonazepam)Cymbalta (duloxetine)Lexapro (escitalopram)Spravato (esketamine)Prozac (fluoxetine)Paxil (paroxetine)Zoloft (sertraline)Effexor (venlafaxine)Make sure you discuss the side effects of these medications with your provider and how to take them.
Commonly Prescribed Antidepressants
Many medications are used as antidepressants. Examples of some you may see prescribed are:Celexa (citalopram)Klonopin (clonazepam)Cymbalta (duloxetine)Lexapro (escitalopram)Spravato (esketamine)Prozac (fluoxetine)Paxil (paroxetine)Zoloft (sertraline)Effexor (venlafaxine)Make sure you discuss the side effects of these medications with your provider and how to take them.
Many medications are used as antidepressants. Examples of some you may see prescribed are:
Make sure you discuss the side effects of these medications with your provider and how to take them.
Clinical Depression Medication Adjustments
Antidepressants don’t work immediately, and it can take weeks and months to experience the true impact of these medications. If antidepressants don’t work for you, your provider may consider otherpsychotropicdrugs (medications affecting your mental state), and in some cases, they may prescribe more than one medication.
These adjustments in dose or medication type should only be made under the direction of a healthcare professional since there is a high potential for withdrawal or side effects from dosing changes.
Self-Care With Clinical Depression
Self-careis essential when it comes to your mental health overall, not just regarding clinical depression. Getting help from a mental health provider or other healthcare professional is the most crucial step in self-care for many people.
Taking the time to understand and address your mental health needs, set boundaries, or limit harmful influences can all be a part of the self-care process. A counselor or therapist can be helpful when it comes to identifying triggers and contributors to your depression and suggesting techniques to manage them.
Some lifestyle changes to consider include:
Anxiety vs. Depression: Having One or Both Disorders
Complementary Therapies for Clinical Depression
Once you’ve identified your triggers and factors that make your depression worse, as well as what helps you feel better, you can add complementary therapies to your mental health care regimen. This does not mean you should stop or change your medications without talking to your healthcare provider first.
Some examples of complementary therapies to help boost mental health are:
Understanding the Link Between Depression and Memory Loss
Clinical Depression Support and Resources
There is no singular cure-all for clinical depression, and it’s not likely a healthcare problem you can cure completely. Learning to manage and support your mental health can involve many things, including clinical care, medications, and nondrug therapies or self-care.
The following services offer resources to help you find support online or locally:
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or have thoughts of hurting yourself, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Disparities in Depression CareOne study examining Medicaid claims data of 599,421 people found that Black and Hispanic Americans and those in low-income and other socially or racially diverse groups were less likely to receive depression treatment and medications than their White counterparts. Access to care, cost, cultural beliefs, the stigma around mental health, and environments when seeking mental health care all contribute to these disparities.
Disparities in Depression Care
One study examining Medicaid claims data of 599,421 people found that Black and Hispanic Americans and those in low-income and other socially or racially diverse groups were less likely to receive depression treatment and medications than their White counterparts. Access to care, cost, cultural beliefs, the stigma around mental health, and environments when seeking mental health care all contribute to these disparities.
Summary
Clinical depression, or MDD, is usually diagnosed with symptoms of sadness or disinterest in activities plus other signs for two weeks or more. Once you are diagnosed with depression, a healthcare provider may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for additional diagnoses and support. Never wait to get help in a mental health crisis. Call 911 or text 988 if you feel you can no longer control your emotions or actions.
What Does Depression Look Like in Men? Here Are 15 Signs and Symptoms
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tolentino JC, Schmidt SL.DSM-5 criteria and depression severity: implications for clinical practice.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:450. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00450American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.What is depression?American Psychological Association.Depression assessment instruments.Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, Cui R, Zhang X.The link between depression and chronic pain: Neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plast. June 2017:9724371. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371National Alliance on Mental Illness.Navigating a mental health crisis.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Getting treatment during crisis.National Alliance on Mental Health.Mental health medications.Pilkington K, Wieland LS.Self-care for anxiety and depression: a comparison of evidence from Cochrane reviews and practice to inform decision-making and priority-setting.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):247. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03038-8McGregor B, Li C, Baltrus P, et al.Racial and ethnic disparities in treatment and treatment type for depression in a national sample of Medicaid recipients.Psychiatr Serv. July 2020;71(7):663-669. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900407
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tolentino JC, Schmidt SL.DSM-5 criteria and depression severity: implications for clinical practice.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:450. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00450American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.What is depression?American Psychological Association.Depression assessment instruments.Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, Cui R, Zhang X.The link between depression and chronic pain: Neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plast. June 2017:9724371. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371National Alliance on Mental Illness.Navigating a mental health crisis.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Getting treatment during crisis.National Alliance on Mental Health.Mental health medications.Pilkington K, Wieland LS.Self-care for anxiety and depression: a comparison of evidence from Cochrane reviews and practice to inform decision-making and priority-setting.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):247. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03038-8McGregor B, Li C, Baltrus P, et al.Racial and ethnic disparities in treatment and treatment type for depression in a national sample of Medicaid recipients.Psychiatr Serv. July 2020;71(7):663-669. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900407
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Tolentino JC, Schmidt SL.DSM-5 criteria and depression severity: implications for clinical practice.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:450. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00450American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.What is depression?American Psychological Association.Depression assessment instruments.Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, Cui R, Zhang X.The link between depression and chronic pain: Neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plast. June 2017:9724371. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371National Alliance on Mental Illness.Navigating a mental health crisis.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Getting treatment during crisis.National Alliance on Mental Health.Mental health medications.Pilkington K, Wieland LS.Self-care for anxiety and depression: a comparison of evidence from Cochrane reviews and practice to inform decision-making and priority-setting.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):247. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03038-8McGregor B, Li C, Baltrus P, et al.Racial and ethnic disparities in treatment and treatment type for depression in a national sample of Medicaid recipients.Psychiatr Serv. July 2020;71(7):663-669. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900407
Tolentino JC, Schmidt SL.DSM-5 criteria and depression severity: implications for clinical practice.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:450. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00450
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Depression.
American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?
National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.What is depression?
American Psychological Association.Depression assessment instruments.
Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, Cui R, Zhang X.The link between depression and chronic pain: Neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plast. June 2017:9724371. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Navigating a mental health crisis.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Getting treatment during crisis.
National Alliance on Mental Health.Mental health medications.
Pilkington K, Wieland LS.Self-care for anxiety and depression: a comparison of evidence from Cochrane reviews and practice to inform decision-making and priority-setting.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):247. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03038-8
McGregor B, Li C, Baltrus P, et al.Racial and ethnic disparities in treatment and treatment type for depression in a national sample of Medicaid recipients.Psychiatr Serv. July 2020;71(7):663-669. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900407
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
