Major Depressive Episode
What is a Major Depressive Episode?
A major depressive episode (MDE) is a period of two weeks or more of a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities, along with other symptoms such as significant changes in appetite or sleep, fatigue, feeling worthless or guilty, difficulty with concentration or decision-making, and thought of death or suicide.
For someone to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder, it must involve at least one major depressive episode. Most people have at least one MDE and many people will have several episodes throughout their life.
Symptoms of Major Depressive Episode
Major depressive episodes are identified by the following symptoms:
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
- Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
These symptoms must also cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
