Diagnosis information

Major depressive disorder

Core diagnostic criteria, specifiers, differential considerations, and documentation support in one open, scan-friendly view.

F32.x-F33.xMood DisordersLocal clinical reference

Criteria: 5 criteria, A–E
Specifiers: 13 specifiers
Differentials: 7 considerations
Severity specifier: Supported

Core diagnostic criteria

All criteria are shown. No expand controls or hidden sections.

A
Core criterion A
≥5 of 9 SIG-E-CAPS symptoms for ≥2 weeks; ≥1 must be depressed mood or anhedonia
B
Core criterion B
Clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning
C
Core criterion C
Not attributable to substances or another medical condition
D
Core criterion D
Not better explained by schizoaffective/schizophrenia spectrum disorder
E
Core criterion E
No prior manic or hypomanic episode (unless substance/medication-induced)

Specifiers

Single episode / Recurrent: One discrete episode or multiple documented episodes.
Mild / Moderate / Severe: Based on symptom load and functional impairment.
With psychotic features: Hallucinations or delusions present during the depressive episode.
In partial remission / In full remission: Residual symptoms vs resolution.
With anxious distress: Prominent tension, worry, or restlessness.
With mixed features: Subthreshold concurrent manic symptoms.
With melancholic features: Anhedonia, non-reactive mood, psychomotor change, morning worsening.
With atypical features: Mood reactivity, increased appetite or sleep, rejection sensitivity.
With mood-congruent psychotic features: Psychosis aligned with depressive themes.
With mood-incongruent psychotic features: Psychosis not aligned with depressive themes.
With catatonia: Catatonic motor or behavioural features.
With peripartum onset: Onset during pregnancy or within four weeks postpartum.
With seasonal pattern: Episodes occurring predictably in relation to seasons.

Documentation support

Consistent with [Major Depressive Disorder] [specifier(s)]. Over at least two weeks, there have been depressed mood; markedly diminished interest or pleasure; significant weight or appetite change; insomnia; hypersomnia; psychomotor agitation; psychomotor retardation; fatigue; loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness; excessive guilt; impaired concentration; indecisiveness; recurrent thoughts of death; suicidal ideation, forming a pattern meeting the threshold for a major depressive episode with at least one of depressed mood and diminished interest. The presentation is further characterised by associated emotional, cognitive, and behavioural changes consistent with a depressive syndrome. These symptoms have resulted in clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or interpersonal functioning, and the picture is not better explained by bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, a substance or medication effect, or a primary medical condition.

Adapt this supplied template to the assessment. It is not a substitute for diagnostic reasoning or local documentation requirements.

DSM-5 DiagnosisDSM-mood-major-depressive-disorderSupplied local catalogue