Working Well

Moderate depression fits somewhere  between mild and major depression.  The characteristics of moderate depression tend to be more prominent and more enduring than those described for mild depression and are less severe and/or numerous than those experienced in major depression.

People who experience moderate depression may find they have a reduced interest in normally pleasurable activities and simple things require real effort or just get neglected.  Moderate depression can cause serious difficulties with social, work and domestic activities, and if left untreated, may lead to major depression.

The World Health Organisation classifies moderate depression as including two of the first three symptoms and at least four others.

- Two weeks of an abnormal depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable
- Reduced energy, or feeling tired
- Loss of confidence and self-esteem
- Feeling guilty and unworthy
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or any suicidal/self-harming behaviour
- Reduced ability to think or concentrate
- Agitated or slow movements
- Disturbed sleep (not enough/too much/poor quality)
- Change in appetite (increase or decrease) with weight change
- Decreased libido
- Unexplained physical symptoms

Moderate depression usually results in:

- A detectable reduction in self confidence and/or self-esteem which can have a follow-on effect as we become less motivated and less productive as a result
- People often start to worry about things unnecessarily, such as performance at work, even if they are managing to maintain their previous standards
- People may be more sensitive and susceptible to feeling hurt or offended within personal relationships

Reference

The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders
World Health Organisation
1993