Last Updated on December 27, 2022 by Mike Robinson
Many people experience a drop in mood from chronic sadness and associated behavioral, cognitive, and emotional problems that prevent them from leading full lives. The DSM-5 spells out very clearly how to diagnose a major depressive disorder. For example, the patient must have at least five of the nine symptoms listed in the manual to be considered depression. But what happens to people with symptoms but don’t meet that minimum? These people have what is called “subclinical depression,” which doesn’t have as many symptoms as major depression but is just as hard to deal with. Let’s learn more about this health issue that is considered mild to moderate depression.
Depression is a psychological condition that manifests in various ways. A decline in mood, a diminished capacity for pleasure, and reduced self-esteem are among the most common symptoms. Corresponding cognitive and behavioral manifestations accompany all symptoms.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Its mildest variant, subclinical depression, also significantly affects the quality of life of those affected.
The term “subclinical” refers to the fact that the person is showing symptoms similar to those of chronic depression but not enough of them to qualify for it. People with subclinical depression may experience brief and recurring episodes of depressive symptoms.
For those who suffer from it, it is a condition that seriously impacts their functioning and well-being. Although this condition is milder than in cases of major depression, it is known that people with subclinical depression experience a significant deterioration in their quality of life. It can impact one’s performance at work, school, and socially. Additionally, those affected are at risk of progressing to significant depression.
Characteristics of subclinical depression
The definition of subclinical depression does not have any standard parameters. In fact, there is no precise terminology for this condition. Instead, what is usually referred to as “subclinical depression” goes by many different names, including:
- Subsyndromic depression,
- Minor depression,
- non-specific depressive symptoms.
Despite the confusion over names, this condition is typically characterized by the patient exhibiting at least two symptoms that are distinctive to major depressive disorder.
In the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), subclinical depression is classified within the categories “other specific depressive disorder” and “depressive episode with insufficient symptoms.”
Symptoms of this condition
The symptoms of subclinical depression coincide with those of major depressive disorder; the main difference between both health conditions is that there are fewer or milder symptoms in the subclinical.
- Depressed mood most of the day.
- Significant weight loss or weight gain
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much) almost every day
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day; fatigue or loss of energy
- Feeling worthless
- Concentration problems
- Recurring thoughts of death and suicide
A minimum of five of the symptoms above must be present, and the patient must admit to experiencing them within the previous two weeks to receive a diagnosis for this condition. These symptoms are limited to a minimum of two and a maximum of four in subclinical depression.
The secret to a successful treatment is early detection. Treatment for subclinical depression aims to prevent the symptoms from worsening and developing into a case of major depressive disorder. The signs of subclinical depression are still signs, no matter how slight they may be, and they can be very incapacitating.
Causes of subclinical depression
Many different factors can have an impact on the highly complex mental condition of depression. Several risk factors can increase the likelihood that someone will experience depressive symptoms, including genetics, family history, past trauma and abuse, drug use, significant life changes, stress, and medical conditions.
Depression that is milder and has fewer symptoms is subclinical depression. Therefore, the factors contributing to this minor depression would be the same as those contributing to a major disorder. The main difference is that they were not as strong, and the person has a mental barrier factor in helping prevent the symptoms from becoming more intense.
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However, it is essential to understand that having mild symptoms of depression is a risk factor for later.
Diagnosis:
Subclinical depression, as we previously stated, is a disorder for which insufficient criteria are present to make a more serious diagnosis. Even though many people experience depressive symptoms, major depressive disorder would not be diagnosed in them because the symptoms are too few, do not occur frequently enough, and are not as intense.
Several studies suggest that subclinical depression can have as much impact on a person’s well-being as major. In other words, it can have the same adverse effects on the patient’s general health as major depression, only slightly less severe. In this sense, some experts and researchers on this issue consider that depression is more of a spectrum, a continuum from fewer to more depressive symptoms.
