Depression causes lots of problems in your daily life. People from all over the world suffer from depression. various types of depression with severe to mild affects are observed all over the world. the most dangerous types of depression are clinical or major or chronic depression. there are various ways to diagnose the symptoms of depression. One of the proven and most widely used diagnostic and statistical manual is DSM. DSM (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder) is the most widely used manual by specialists allover the world to diagnose mental disorders such as depression. DSM (Diagnostic and statistical Manual for mental disorder) helps specialists to diagnose various types of depression. DSM was first published in 1952 by American psychiatric association. Number of versions of DSM has been launched since then. the latest one is fourth edition launched in 1994 often referred as DSM 4. DSM diagnosis criteria for depression involve the following:
1. According to DSM, in major depressive disorders, affective or mood symptoms of depression include depressed mood and feelings of worthlessness (patients feel as if they are good for nothing) or guilt.
2. DSM Includes social withdrawal such as loss of interest in social activities and other activities that join you with the society as behavioral symptoms.
3. Agitation is also considered as the behavioral symptom according to DSM.
4. Poor concentration, inability to take decisions and all other problems relating to poor
concentration and thinking are considered as cognitive symptoms of depression in DSM.
5. Insomnia (sufferer sleeps too less or does not get proper sleep) and hypomania (sufferer sleeps too much, as many as 20 hours in a day) are considered as somatic symptoms in DSM.
Specialists make use of DSM to diagnose depression in a number of ways. the usefulness of DSM 4 by the specialists becomes very high when the diagnosis for depression like major depression is sought. DSM guide helps specialists to identify the symptoms of the mental disorder and name the type of disorder. DSM guide is used as an Educational tool to conduct all kinds of researches to find out more about the health problems. DSM is also used by specialists to categorize the situations or various types of disorders that a person is suffering from. DSM 4 helps specialists to tell you about the exact type of depression you are suffering from. to do so all the symptoms listed in DSM are considered and accordingly the type of depression is identified. Doctors that do not use DSM to identify the symptoms of depression are unable to tell you about the exact type of depression a person is suffering from. it is very important before the treatment of depression to know exactly what type of depression the person is suffering from, whether it is major or clinical or any other type. the treatment methods vary according to the type of depression. Specialists always need to make sure that they follow DSM as a guide to identify the type of depression.
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