Depressive Symptoms and Examples in Adolescents
| Signs and Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder . | Signs of Depression Frequently Seen in Youth . |
|---|---|
| Depressed mood most of the day | Irritable or cranky mood; preoccupation with song lyrics that suggest life is meaningless |
| Decreased interest/enjoyment in once-favorite activities | Loss of interest in sports, video games, and activities with friends |
| Significant weight loss/gain | Failure to gain weight as normally expected; anorexia or bulimia; frequent complaints of physical illness; eg, headache, stomach ache |
| Insomnia or hypersomnia | Excessive late-night TV; refusal to wake for school in the morning |
| Psychomotor agitation/retardation | Talk of running away from home, or efforts to do so |
| Fatigue or loss of energy | Persistent boredom |
| Low self-esteem; feelings of guilt | Oppositional and/or negative behavior |
| Decreased ability to concentrate; indecisive | Poor performance in school; frequent absences |
| Recurrent suicidal ideation or behavior | Recurrent suicidal ideation or behavior (writing about death; giving away favorite toys or belongings) |
| Signs and Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder . | Signs of Depression Frequently Seen in Youth . |
|---|---|
| Depressed mood most of the day | Irritable or cranky mood; preoccupation with song lyrics that suggest life is meaningless |
| Decreased interest/enjoyment in once-favorite activities | Loss of interest in sports, video games, and activities with friends |
| Significant weight loss/gain | Failure to gain weight as normally expected; anorexia or bulimia; frequent complaints of physical illness; eg, headache, stomach ache |
| Insomnia or hypersomnia | Excessive late-night TV; refusal to wake for school in the morning |
| Psychomotor agitation/retardation | Talk of running away from home, or efforts to do so |
| Fatigue or loss of energy | Persistent boredom |
| Low self-esteem; feelings of guilt | Oppositional and/or negative behavior |
| Decreased ability to concentrate; indecisive | Poor performance in school; frequent absences |
| Recurrent suicidal ideation or behavior | Recurrent suicidal ideation or behavior (writing about death; giving away favorite toys or belongings) |
(Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.)