Mood Disorders - Diagnostic Criteria: DSM-IV

1. MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Major Depressive Episode:

A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure:

(1) depressed mood 

(2) loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia) 

(3) significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite 

(4) insomnia or hypersomnia 

(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation 

(6) fatigue or loss of energy 

(7) feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate/excessive guilt 

(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness 

(9) recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

  • * Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions and hallucinations.

B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed episode.

C. The symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (eg, drug of abuse) or a general medical condition (eg, hypothyroidism).

E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by bereavement (ie, depressive/grief symptoms lasting less than 2 months).

2. DYSTHYMIC DISORDER

A. Depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, as indicated either by subjective account or observation made by others, for at least 2 years.

  • Note: In children and adolescents, mood can be irritable and duration must be at least 1 year.

B. Presence, while depressed, of two (or more) of the following:

(1) poor appetite or overeating 

(2) insomnia or hypersomnia 

(3) low energy or fatigue 

(4) low self-esteem 

(5) poor concentration or difficulty making decisions 

(6) feelings of hopelessness

C. During the 2-year period (1 year for children or adolescents) of the disturbance, the person has never been without the symptoms in Criteria A and B for more than 2 months at a time.

D. No major depressive episode has been present during the first 2 years of the disturbance (1 year for children and adolescents); ie, the disturbance is not better accounted for by chronic major depressive disorder, or major depressive disorder, in partial remission.

  • Note: There may have been a previous major depressive episode provided there was a full remission (no significant signs or symptoms for 2 months) before development of the dysthymic disorder. In addition, after the initial 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents) of dysthymic disorder, there may be superimposed episodes of major depressive disorder, in which case both diagnoses may be given when the criteria are met for a major depressive episode.

E. There has never been a manic episode, a mixed episode, or a hypomanic episode, and criteria have never been met for cyclothymic disorder.

F. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a chronic psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia or delusional disorder.

G. The symptoms are not due to the direct effects of a substance (eg, drugs of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (eg, hypothyroidism).

H. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

3. BIPOLAR DISORDERS

Hypomanic Episode:

A. A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary).

B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:

(1) inflated self-esteem or grandiosity 

(2) decreased need for sleep (eg, feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep) 

(3) more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking 

(4) flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing 

(5) distractibility (ie, attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli) 

(6) increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation 

(7) excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (eg, engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)

C. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for a mixed episode.

D. The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.

E. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (eg, a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (eg, hyperthyroidism).

  • *Note: Manic-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (eg, medication, electroconvulsive treatment, light therapy) should not count toward a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder.

4. CYCLOTHYMIC DISORDER

A. For at least 2 years, the presence of numerous periods with hypomanic symptoms and numerous periods with depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a major depressive episode.

  • Note: In children and adolescents, the duration must be at least 1 year.

B. During the above 2-year period (1 year in children and adolescents), the person has not been without the symptoms in Criterion A for more than 2 months at a time.

C. No major depressive episode, manic episode, or mixed episode has been present during the first 2 years of the disturbance.

Note: After the initial 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents) of cyclothymic disorder, there may be superimposed manic or mixed episodes (in which case both bipolar I disorder and cyclothymic disorder may be diagnosed) or major depressive episodes (in which case both bipolar II disorder and cyclothymic disorder may be diagnosed).

D. The symptoms in Criterion A are not better accounted for by schizoaffective disorder, and are not superimposed on schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified.

E. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (eg, drugs of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (eg, hyperthyroidism).

F. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

5. MOOD DISORDER DUE TO A GENERAL MEDICAL CONDITION

A. A prominent and persistent disturbance in mood predominates in the clinical picture and is characterized by either (or both) of the following:

(1) depressed mood or markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities;

(2) elevated, expansive, or irritable mood.

B. There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the disturbance is the direct physiological consequence of a general medical condition.

C. The disturbance is not accounted for by another mental disorder (eg, adjustment disorder with depressed mood in response to the stress of having a general medical condition).

D. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.

E. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.