Major Depressive Disorder
Depression is one of the most common medical illnesses in America. Children and adolescents diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) experience d epressed mood, irritability, or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
These feelings must last for at least a 2 week period and must be present most of the day nearly every day. So, feeling down or blue for a day or two is a normal experience, and is not depression
Adolescents with depression notice a marked difference in their current mood compared to their normal mood, or mood prior to depression. A depressed mood caused by either substances (such as drugs, alcohol, or medications) or a general medical condition is not considered depression. Furthermore, a period of sadness resulting from the loss of a loved one would not be considered MDD
Symptoms
- Diminished interest or pleasure in regularly enjoyable activities
- Depressed mood or irritable mood
- Significant change in appetite or weight or failure to meet developmental weight gains
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Thoughts of suicide
- Inability to think or make a decision
- Tiredness or loss of energy
