What is the Cause of Severe Depression?

What Causes Severe Depression?

Severe depression can have various causes, just like most other symptoms. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose severe depression, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "severe depression" as a symptom. For example, depression.

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

discontinued antidepressant drug use

pre/menstrual depression

prednisone use

depression in family members

loss of interest in activities

mood swings

being easily irritated

angry/hostile disposition

weak appetite

having trouble concentrating

much reduced sense of taste

being a lethargic person

... and more than 10 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of severe depression.

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate suffering from depression, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Whether you have depression now, past depressive episodes or both, how severe is/was it?

Possible responses:

→ Not applicable / don't know
→ Mild - I can mask it as needed
→ Moderate - I am still able to function
→ Serious - it affects all that I do

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate episode(s) of mild depression, episode(s) of depression or episode(s) of deep depression, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as Depression.

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