What Is Depression?
4. Signs and Symptoms
Some patients may not present with typical symptoms. When they first seek treatment, symptoms are often somatic and vague such as headache, abdominal distress, fatigue, and changes in weight. There may be difficulty concentrating and irritability instead of low mood or sadness. In children, symptoms may include social withdrawal and a decline in school performance. In the elderly, there can be a decline in functioning, confusion, and cognitive symptoms. A thorough family history is important as depression can be familial.
Symptoms to look out for include heaviness, sadness, numbness, anhedonia (loss of interest in activities they once loved), hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, and ruminative thinking. When there are symptoms of psychosis, a careful history evaluation is required to rule out schizophrenia, bipolar, and substance abuse.
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