major depressive disorder
Let an agent give neutral, non-diagnostic information about depression, point to professional care, and give crisis contacts first when someone may be at risk.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent give neutral, non-diagnostic information about depression, point to professional care, and give crisis contacts first when someone may be at risk.
A common mental health condition characterised by persistent low mood or loss of interest or pleasure for at least two weeks, with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration and self-worth, causing significant distress or impairment; it is treatable.
What it is for: A recognised clinical condition, diagnosed and treated by health professionals.
It can be seek assessment from a doctor or mental health professional; access evidence-based treatments such as talking therapies and medication; contact crisis services when at risk; support someone who is struggling.
Distinguishing features
Lasts at least two weeks
Differs from ordinary sadness or grief in duration and impact
Treatable
Diagnosis needs a professional
What it looks like
Not visible; experienced as persistent low mood, loss of interest and other symptoms.
How it is recognised
Diagnosed with criteria such as DSM-5 or ICD-11
Severity: mild, moderate, severe
Recurrent and persistent forms
Related models
is a kind of - category
is treated by - treatment
is diagnosed by - assessment
is related to - co-occurring
In practice
Families and kinds
single episode and recurrent depression
persistent depressive disorder
depression with melancholic or other features
perinatal depression
treatment-resistant depression
Identifiers
ICD-11 6A70-6A71 depressive episode and recurrent disorder
DSM-5 296.2x / 296.3x major depressive disorder
Standards and regulation
NICE guideline NG222 depression in adults
WHO mhGAP guidance
Mental health law and patient rights
Failure modes and hazards
Self-diagnosis or diagnosis by an agent
Missing signs that someone is at risk of harming themselves
Stigmatising language
Stopping medication without medical advice
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Safety Crisis first.
Safety comes before anything else.
Risk
Immediate danger.
Risk
Immediate risk.
- Is the person in immediate danger, and should emergency services or a crisis line be contacted now? boundary
- Which crisis line serves their country? action
Support
Someone to talk to.
Support
Immediate support.
- Is there a trusted person who can be with them? action
- How can the agent stay supportive without advising on treatment? boundary
Care Professional help.
Diagnosis and treatment are professional.
Assessment
Seeing a professional.
Assessment
Assessment.
- How can someone get assessed by a doctor or mental health professional? action
- What can they expect? definition
Treatment
Options.
Treatment
Treatment options.
- Which treatments do clinical guidelines describe? provenance
- Who decides on treatment with the person? boundary
Information Understanding.
Accurate information reduces stigma.
Symptoms
What it is.
Symptoms
General information.
- What does reliable health information say about depression? provenance
- How does it differ from sadness or grief? definition
Language
Stigma.
Language
Respectful language.
- Is the language respectful and non-stigmatising? boundary
- Is recovery described as possible? boundary
Supporting others Family and friends.
Supporters need guidance too.
Helping
What to do.
Helping
Helping someone.
- How can a friend or family member help? action
- When should they seek urgent help? boundary
Rights
Work and study.
Rights
Rights.
- What adjustments at work or study may be available? boundary
- Who can advise? action
What the second pass must settle
- How should crisis contacts be localised on the page?
- Should subtypes be separate entries?
- How should treatment guidance be linked to authoritative sources?