Depression: A Very Short Introduction

On page 22-23, Depression: A Very Short Introduction includes an example of the diagnostic criteria for major depression. The diagnostic criteria is as follows:

 Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same two-week period and represent a change previous functioning at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. 
  1. depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by subjective or observer reports
  2. markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
  3. significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
  4. insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
  5. psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
  6. fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
  7. feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
  8. diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
  9. recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

The fact that there is specific diagnostic criteria solidified that depression is an illness. It is like any other disease. There are markers and criteria that point to you having the disease or not having the disease. These criteria made me think about depression in more medical sense as opposed to just thinking about depression as feelings. 

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