Editor—Minerva described the mnemonic SIGECAPS, which is used to diagnose depression in the USA).1 An improved version was suggested: C GASP DIE.2 Obviously the value and memorability of these exercises depends on the effort each person puts into it. I thought it would be simpler to create a mnemonic in which the 10 letters of the word depression represent its 10 symptoms as described in the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases3:
D = Depressed mood
E = Energy loss/fatigue
P = Pleasure lost
R = Retardation or excitation
E = Eating changed—appetite/weight
S = Sleep changed
S = Suicidal thoughts
I = I'm a failure (loss of confidence)
O = Only me to blame (guilt)
N = No concentration
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Minerva. BMJ 2006;332: 372. (11 February.) [Google Scholar]
- 2.Abraham PF, Shirley ER. New mnemonic for depressive symptoms. Am J Psychiatry 2006;163: 329-30. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.World Health Organization. The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Geneva: WHO, 1992: 119-131.