Diagnosis	Criteria		Treatment
Sadness variation	Transient, normal depressive responses or mood changes to stress.		Emotional support
Bereavement	Sadness is related to a major loss that typically persists for less than two months after the loss. (These responses do not include guilt about things other than actions taken or not taken by the survivor at the time of death.) Thoughts of death and morbid preoccupation with worthlessness are also present.		Emotional support; counseling
Sadness problem	Sadness or irritability that begins to resemble major depressive disorders in a milder form (see criteria for major depressive disorder). However, these behaviors lack the severity to qualify for a depressive disorder. The symptoms are more than transient and do have a mild impact on functioning. Bereavement lasting for more than two months may also qualify.		Support; counseling; consider medication
Adjustment disorder with depressed mood	Development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor which occur within three months of the stressor. Symptoms include depressed mood, tearfulness and hopelessness, and occur in excess of what would usually be expected from exposure to the stressor and cause significant impairment in social and occupational/academic functioning. Once the stressor (or its consequences) has terminated, the symptoms resolve within six months. Acute episodes last for less than six months, and chronic episodes last six months.		Psychotherapy; medication (SSRIs or TCAs)
Major depressive disorder	Significant distress or impairment manifested by 5 to 9 of the criteria listed below occurring almost daily for two weeks. A depressed/irritable mood or diminished interest/pleasure must be among these criteria and must represent a change from previous functioning:		Psychotherapy; medication (SSRIs or TCAs)
		Depressed/irritable Recurrent thoughts of death and suicidal ideation Diminished interest or pleasure Weight loss/gain Psychomotor agitation/retardation Fatigue or energy loss Feelings of worthlessness Diminished ability to think/concentrate Insomnia or hypersomnia
Dysthymic disorder	Depressed/irritable mood for most of the day, for more days than not (by subjective account or observation by others) for one year, including the presence of two of the following symptoms:		Psychotherapy; medication (SSRIs or TCAs)
		Poor appetite/overeating Insomnia/hypersomnia Low energy or fatigue Poor concentration/difficulty making decisions Feelings of hopelessness
	These symptoms are less severe than those in a major depressive disorder but are more persistent.
Bipolar I disorder, most recent episode depressed	The patient is currently in a major depressive episode with a history of one manic or mixed episode. The mood episodes are not better accounted for by schizoaffective disorder and are not superimposed on schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder or a psychotic disorder not otherwise specified.		Medication (lithium, anti-convulsants, psychiatric consultation), psychotherapy
Bipolar II disorder, recurrent major depressive episodes with hypomanic episodes	Presence or history of one major depressive episode + one hypomanic episode (similar to manic episode but only needs to last four days and is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in function). There have never been any manic or mixed episodes. The symptoms are not better accounted for by schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, schizophrenia or psychotic disorder. The symptoms overall cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.		Medication (lithium, anti-convulsants, psychiatric consultation), psychotherapy