The Criteria include the following

• Five or more symptoms must be present for the same 2-week period
• There must be a change in functioning
• At least one of the symptoms must be either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure

Symptoms include

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day (sad, tearful)
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities most of the day nearly, nearly every day
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (change in 5% body weight over one month) or a decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
• Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)) nearly every day
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observed by others) Agitation is defines a a restlessness
• Fatigue or a loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Diminished ability to concentrate or inability to make decisions nearly every day
• Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a plan or recurrent suicide attempts

Symptoms cause distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

Symptoms are not related to a medical condition or bereavement.

Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV; 1994, American Psychiatric Association, Washington D.C.

For more information about depression in general go to:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm

For more information about Depression during Pregnancy go to: