The symptoms of major depression.

Abstract

The 8 symptoms of Criterion B for major depressive disorder (MDE) in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders were studied in 107 cases and 57 noncases of MDE (all had depressed mood or pervasive anhedonia for more than 2 weeks). Sleep change, loss of energy, and appetite change were the most common symptoms, and psychomotor change and feelings of worthlessness the least common, in MDE. Loss of energy and sleep change were the best single symptoms and thoughts of death, feelings of worthlessness, and psychomotor change the worst for both diagnoses. Psychomotor change was the best and thoughts of death the worst indicator of MDE. Absence of sleep change and of loss of energy were the best and absence of thoughts of death, psychomotor change, and feelings of worthlessness the worst indicators of non-MDE. Results suggest that vegetative symptoms are more central to clinical depression than feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, or guilt.