Describe why John met the diagnostic criteria for MDD
The diagnostic criteria for MDD state that the person has to experience five or more symptoms in the course of the same two-weeks’ time and at least one of the signs has to be either loss of pressure or interest and depressed mood. The signs include recurrent suicidal ideation without a particular plan, trying to commit suicide, or a certain plan to kill himself or recurrent thoughts of death. The individual also gets reduced thinking capabilities or concentration. The person may also be feeling worthlessness or inappropriate guilt almost daily. Loss of energy or feeling tired almost daily. Reduced physical activity observed by other people; substantial weight loss or gain without dieting; markedly reduced interest or pleasure in every, or nearly every activity in most of the day; and depressed mood most of the day, almost daily.
John started by stating that he was about to jump from a ledge. He didn’t have any reason to stay alive, which means John was feeling worthlessness. John had experienced bullying at school and in the community. John could not remember the last day he was happy, showing he had no pleasure and had a depressed mood almost every day for two years. He has difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in usual activities like painting, and even works. John always felt guilty for not providing the best for his mom and for surviving an explosion.
Why was this a better diagnosis than bipolar disorder?
John met the depression criteria diagnosis; Two signs must be present (he experienced depressed mood and loss of pleasure for two years) and had Insomnia, difficulty concentrating. He also lacked the necessary symptoms to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He did not have any episodes of mania or hypomania. John did not also report experiencing any delusions or hallucinations or other disturbance of any sort.
What were your reactions to this case study? How did this story impact your view of individuals suffering from MDD? Did you learn anything new that wasn’t discussed in the text?
I reacted to this case study with sympathy for John after realizing what he has been living with; bullying for being gay, losing his father, have to provide for the family and living with the guilt of other dying even if it wasn’t his fault. My view of such people changed in that they can be living among us and we don’t realize. The case helped me learn how to differentiate bipolar from depression better.