Major Depressive Disorder
Psychiatry/Behavioral · ~7% of blueprint- Pathophysiology
- Multifactorial — monoamine (serotonin/norepinephrine/dopamine) dysregulation, GABA/glutamate and neuroendocrine changes, genetics.
- Signs & Symptoms
- ≥2 weeks of depressed mood/anhedonia plus SIGECAPS (sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor, suicidality).
- Gold Standard Diagnosis
- Clinical (DSM-5): ≥5 of 9 symptoms for ≥2 weeks, including mood or anhedonia (PHQ-9 to screen).
- First-line Treatment
- SSRIs first-line + psychotherapy (CBT); reassess if no improvement by 4 weeks.
High-Yield Pearl
Screen with PHQ-9; SSRIs are first-line — assess suicidality and allow weeks for effect.
Practice this
Sources
Reviewed September 2026- CANMAT 2023 Update on Clinical Guidelines for Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults — CANMAT, 2024
- StatPearls: Major Depressive Disorder — StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf, 2026
- StatPearls: Bipolar Disorder — StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf, 2026
Checked against the guideline or standard reference the exam keys to. If it has moved, use Report an error below.
More Psychiatry/Behavioral conditions
Got your lecture on Major Depressive Disorder? Turn it into flashcards and board-style questions, free. Drop it on the home page
All Psychiatry/Behavioral