Mood Symptoms:

1. Abnormal depressed mood:
   1. Sadness is usually a normal reaction to loss. However, in Major Depressive Disorder, sadness is abnormal because it:
      • Persists continuously for at least 2 weeks.
      • Causes marked functional impairment.
      • Causes disabling physical symptoms (e.g., disturbances in sleep, appetite, weight, energy, and psychomotor activity).
      • Causes disabling psychological symptoms (e.g., apathy, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, or psychotic symptoms).
   2. The sadness in this disorder is often described as a depressed, hopeless, discouraged, "down in the dumps," "blah," or empty. This sadness may be denied at first. Many complain of bodily aches and pains, rather than admitting to their true feelings of sadness.
2. Abnormal loss of interest and pleasure mood:
   1. The loss of interest and pleasure in this disorder is a reduced capacity to experience pleasure which in its most extreme form is called anhedonia.
   2. The resulting lack of motivation can be quite crippling.
3. Abnormal irritable mood:
   1. This disorder may present primarily with irritable, rather than depressed or apathetic mood. This is not officially recognized yet for adults, but it is recognized for children and adolescents.
   2. Unfortunately, irritable depressed individuals often alienate their loved ones with their cranky mood and constant criticisms.
    

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