| S |
| = | Sleep -- insomnia/hypersomnia; often the
earliest symptom; may be overlooked if the patient has been given
sleeping tablets
|
| A |
| = | Appetite or weight change (increase or decrease)
|
| D | | = | Dysphoria -- "bad mood", irritability, sadness;
the essential abnormality; few complain of it spontaneously
|
| A | | = | Anhedonia -- loss of interest in work, hobbies, sex
|
| F | | = | Fatigue -- affects almost all; often manifests as
difficulty completing tasks
|
| A | | = | Agitation/retardation -- especially in the
elderly
|
| C | | = | Concentration -- diminished; difficulty with
simple tasks, conversation, decision-making; may lead to a
misdiagnosis of dementia in the elderly
|
| E | | = | Esteem -- low; guilt; events from the past may
assume new significance
|
| S | | = | Suicidal thoughts -- present in two-thirds of
depressed patients; 10%-15% will commit suicide.
|
