The four dimensions in which depression is diagnosed

The first is the number of symptoms.

The more the number of depressive symptoms, the greater the likelihood of the patient suffering from depression. Common depression symptoms include low mood, lack of motivation, lack of self-confidence, decreased sleep quality and so on. These symptoms doctors will count out, in order to assess the severity of the patient's depression.

The second is the type of symptoms.

Some symptoms are more often seen in patients with major depression, for example, psychomotor retardation.  Patients with psychomotor retardation will move quite slowly. Some patients with major depressive disorder may also have symptoms of psychosis, hearing voices and seeing sights that are not existing, or suspecting that someone is setting them up. These types of symptoms all reflect the severity of depression.

The third is the impact of symptoms on life.

Some patients are so affected by depression that their quality of life is greatly diminished. They may not be able to go to school, they may not be able to go to work, they just want to stay at home and not do anything, they do not even want to get along with people, which then affects their social life and even their relationship with their family.

The fourth is the length of symptoms.

Everyone can be unhappy, but if it is only for a day and a half, this can not be considered depression. On the contrary, if the symptoms persist for a long period of time, up to a few weeks or even months, the situation may be more serious.

If you notice that you or a friend around you has similar symptoms, please pay attention to them along with the above four dimensions. If the situation is similar, it is recommended that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible.