Criterion A and B are the essential features for diagnosis. Clinicians must be able to relate depression to physiological disturbance from another medical condition. Temporal association between onset of depression and the medical condition and atypical depressive features (age, family history, etc.) are important areas for consideration when making a diagnosis.

Grand Valley State University

A. A prominent and persistent disturbance in mood that predominates in the clinical picture and is characterized by depressed mood or markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities.

B. There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the disturbance is the direct pathophysiological consequence of another medical condition.

C. The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., adjustment disorder, with depressed mood, in which the stressor is a serious medical condition).

D. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.

E. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Coding note: The ICD-10-CM code depends on the specifier.

Learn Before

Related