Table 5.

Signs and symptoms of severe depression^*

• Persistent sad or irritable mood

• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

• Substantial change in appetite or body weight

• Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping

• Psychomotor agitation or retardation

• Loss of energy

• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt

• Difficulty concentrating

• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Five or more of these symptoms (including at least one of the first two) must persist for two or more weeks before major depression can be diagnosed

^*World Health Organization (see “Further Reading” box)