Major depressive episode is a period involving Sx of major depressive disorder, primarily severely depressed mood, and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities, accompanied by other Sx e.g. feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, anxiety, worthlessness, guilt, and/or irritability, changes in appetite, problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions, and thoughts of or attempts at suicide.

• Over a 2-week period
• Experienced 5+ of various Sx, including:
  • Mood, anhedonia and loss of interest
  • Change in eating, appetite, or weight
  • Sleep
  • Motor activity
  • Fatigue and concentration
  • Thoughts of death and suicide
• These must be outside the Pt's normal behavior
• Either depressed mood or decreased interest or pleasure, must be 1 of the 5, although both are frequently present

• Major depression