The client’s symptoms match up with the specific diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 defines MDD as a mental disorder characterized by a persistent and pervasive depressed mood that significantly interferes with one’s ability to function. The client’s symptoms include:
- Depressed mood: The client reports feeling sad, hopeless, and worthless.
- Loss of interest or pleasure: The client reports losing interest in activities that they used to enjoy.
- Changes in appetite: The client reports either decreased or increased appetite.
- Changes in sleep: The client reports either decreased or increased sleep.
- Changes in psychomotor activity: The client reports either psychomotor agitation or retardation.
- Fatigue: The client reports feeling fatigued or lacking in energy.
- Guilt or worthlessness: The client reports feeling guilty or worthless.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate: The client reports having difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
- Recurrent thoughts of death: The client reports recurrent thoughts of death, including thoughts of suicide.
The client’s symptoms have been present for more than two weeks and are causing significant distress or impairment in one’s social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Describe in detail how the client’s symptoms match up with the specific diagnostic criteria for the disorder (or all the disorders) that you finally selected for the client. You do not need to repeat the diagnostic code in the explanation.
The client’s symptoms match up with the specific diagnostic criteria for MDD in the DSM-5. The client reports feeling sad, hopeless, and worthless. They have lost interest in activities that they used to enjoy. They have decreased appetite and sleep. They have psychomotor agitation and fatigue. They feel guilty and worthless. They have difficulty concentrating and making decisions. They have recurrent thoughts of death, including thoughts of suicide.
The client’s symptoms have been present for more than two weeks and are causing significant distress or impairment in one’s social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Identify the differential diagnosis you considered.
The differential diagnosis for MDD includes:
- Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression. The client’s symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for mania.
- Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression is a mental disorder that occurs after childbirth. The client’s symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for postpartum depression.
- Adjustment disorder with depressed mood: Adjustment disorder with depressed mood is a mental disorder that occurs in response to a stressful life event. The client’s symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for adjustment disorder with depressed mood.
After considering the differential diagnosis, I believe that the most likely diagnosis for the client is MDD. The client’s symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria for MDD and do not meet the diagnostic criteria for any other disorder.
