Depressed mood
Sadness, emptiness or hopelessness for much of the day, nearly every day. In children and adolescents, irritability may be particularly prominent.
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Am I depressed? Signs, types and assessment
Depression is more than sadness. Loss of interest, exhaustion and difficulties in everyday life also matter.
Distinguishing low mood, grief and a depressive episode means considering the whole pattern of symptoms, their duration and their impact. You can ask for help before knowing what to call your experience.
Updated 7 October 2026
One symptom alone is not enough for a diagnosis. Depressed mood or loss of interest deserves particular attention when it persists and affects everyday life.
Main symptoms to assess
Loss of interest or pleasure
Previously enjoyable activities may become less appealing or no longer bring satisfaction. This can affect hobbies, relationships and other areas of life.
Agitation or slowing down
Movement, speech or pace may slow down; alternatively, agitation may appear. For this criterion, the change needs to be observable by others, rather than only experienced internally.
Changes in appetite or weight
Appetite may decrease or increase, sometimes with an unintended change in weight. These changes need to be considered in context.
Changes in sleep
Difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night or too early, or sleeping excessively: several patterns are possible. Sleep problems also warrant assessment in their own right.
Fatigue and loss of energy
Ordinary tasks may require unusual effort. This fatigue is not a lack of willpower and can have several causes.
Worthlessness and guilt
Feeling worthless or experiencing excessive guilt, sometimes unrelated to the facts, can be part of a depressive episode.
Thoughts of death or suicide
Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviour require prompt or immediate help, depending on the situation. Being able to discuss them directly matters.
Concentration and decision-making
Concentrating, following a conversation, remembering information or making a decision may become harder than usual.
When is it a depressive episode?
In the DSM-5-TR, a major depressive episode involves at least five of the nine symptoms presented here during the same period of at least two weeks. One must be depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. The symptoms represent a change from usual functioning and cause significant distress or impairment.
This framework is more than a symptom count: assessment also considers substances, medication, physical health and mood history. Difficulties that do not meet all the criteria may still warrant support.
Grief and depression: a nuanced distinction
After a loss, sadness, fatigue, sleep problems or reduced appetite can be part of grief. Grief and depression can also coexist. Intensity, changes over time and the person’s emotional experience need to be explored, without imposing a “normal” timetable for grieving.
Types and contexts of depression
A major depressive episode can be mild, moderate or severe, and occur once or recur. Persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthymia, involves longstanding depressed mood, generally for at least two years in adults, with other symptoms; it is not necessarily mild.
A depressive phase may also occur within bipolar disorder. Exploring previous episodes of mania or hypomania is essential because this affects treatment decisions. Perinatal or seasonal patterns may also be relevant.
Depression and giftedness
Questions about the meaning of life may be important for some gifted people, as for other people. “Existential depression” is not a separate DSM-5-TR diagnosis, and intellectual giftedness does not determine the form or cause of depression.
Assessment and treatment options
A clinical interview helps clarify symptoms, their history, their impact and associated difficulties. Questionnaires may add information; an IQ test is not necessary to diagnose depression. Medical assessment may investigate physical causes and discuss treatment.
Psychotherapy, medication or a combination may be offered depending on severity, preferences and circumstances. Assessment aims to support understanding and appropriate referrals, without promising that one evaluation will resolve every difficulty.
Need urgent support?
In France, if you are having suicidal thoughts, 3114 is free and available 24/7. In immediate danger, call 15 or 112. Do not wait for an assessment appointment to seek help. Outside France, contact your local crisis or emergency service.
Understand your functioning better
You do not need to have found an explanation already. Describe your situation and questions to help identify the right assessment.
