Case analysis # 2

Depression
Caitlin Birenbaum Pamela Tocco
3rd October 2018
Professor C. Scribner, PhD

-Enjoyed
-learned
-raised questions
Answered questions
-how was the reading impactful?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (cited in
Oltmanns and Emery, 2015, p.113), the following are the core characteristics of Major
Depressive disorder:
Five or more of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and
represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1)
depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.(Oltmanns and Emery, 2015 p.113).
A. Shows symptoms of a major depressive episode:
1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either the
subject, or by observation. It can also be indicated by irritability in adolescents or
developing children.
2. Little to no interest in most if not all activities of the day, nearly every day, either
by subjective account or by observation.-​“it involve the complete absence, absence of affect,
absence of feeling, absence of response, absence of interest” (Wurtzel, 1994, p.68),
3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or even weight gain of more than 5% of
body weight in a month. Another sign is decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day;
in children, it can be indicated by failure to meet expected weight gain.
4. Insomnia; inability to sleep, or hypersomnia; too much sleep, nearly every day.
5. Actions and behaviors slowed down nearly every day: observed by others.
6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.-​“incapable of much else other than lying
in this white room...watching a television set” (Wurtzel, 1994, p.68).
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or misguided guilt nearly every day; which
may be signs of delusion.​ -​“I start to cry and tell her that if I die, there will be blood on her
hands” (Wurtzel, 1994, p.69) “
8. Depleted ability to think or focus, or a decreased ability to concentrate, which
occurs nearly every day; either by personal account or observed by others​.-“​Nothing is real
to me unless it is right in front of me” (Wurtzel, 1994, p.69).
9. Recurrent thoughts of death; not just a fear of dying, recurrent suicidal ideas
without a specific plan to enact them, or a suicide attempt or a thought out plan for
committing suicide.-​“one morning you wake up afraid you are going to live” (Wurtzel, 1994,
p.67). “my spirit was long gone...dead and gone” (Wurtzel, 1994, p.67). “For the first time ever
I am contemplating suicide completely seriously,” (Wurtzel, 1994, p.69).​“ ​then one day you
realize that your entire life is just awful, not worth living,”(Wurtzel, 1994, p.69).

B. Important areas of functioning including social and job related aspects of the subjects
life are being impaired or disrupted due to the symptoms and presence of the disorder.
(distress.) ​“I know that if I could just get out from under this depression, there is so much I
could do besides cry in front of a TV on a Saturday night.

C. The major depressive episode is not attributable to the physiological effects of a

substance or to another medical condition.- ​I saw no clear evidence to support the evidence of
another medical condition or use of a substance.

D. The occurrence of the major depressive episode is not better explained by other
psychotic disorders.​-I saw no clear evidence to support the presence of another psychotic
disorder being present.

Citations
Oltmanns, T. and Emery, R. (2015). Abnormal Psychology (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River,
NJ:Prentice-Hall.
Wurtzel, Elizabeth. (1994). Suffering from Depression. In D Sattler, V. Shatabay, & G. Kramer
(Eds.), Abnormal Psychology in Context (pp.65-74). Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.

(Wurtzel 1994, p.-)

(Oltmanns and Emery, 2015 p.113).