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What are the similarities and differences in the way
DSM and ICD describe depression?
By Hunna Ihsan
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Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual
of Mental
Disorders (DSM)
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What is DSM?
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The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders is the
standard classification of mental
disorders used by mental health
professionals in the United States
• 
Many mental health professionals
use the manual to determine and
help communicate a patients
diagnosis after evaluation: hospitals,
insurance companies and clinics in
the US also generally require a DSM
diagnosis for all patients treated.
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The manual consists of array of
causes of the disorder, and the
statistics of those who have been
affected by the disorder. These
statistics are in relation to frequency,
gender or age.
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Categorization
Multi- axial system – organizes each psychiatric diagnosis
into five dimensions (axes) relating to different aspects of
disorder
Multi-axial system
Axis 1: acute symptoms that need treatment (major depressive
episode)
Axis II – Assessment of personality disorders/intellectual
disabilities – disorders that arise in childhood.
Axis III- Physical conditions that may be relevant to diagnosing
and treating mental disorders
Axis IV- identifies recent psychosocial stressors – (divorce may
affect the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of mental disorders).
Axis V- identified the patients level of function on a scale of 0-100. It
attempts to quantify a patients ability to function in daily life.
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Major Depressive Disorder
(Unipolar Depression)
How does DSM describe depression?
The etiology
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DSM describes depression as being influenced by
biological as well as environmental factors
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Studies have shown that first degree relatives of
people with depression have a higher incidence of
the illness.
Symptoms
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- depressed mood
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- loss of energy
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- difficulty concentrating
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- suicidal thoughts or intentions
Treatment
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Pharmacotherapy
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- psychotherapy
Prognosis for major depressive disorder is better than
other mood disorder as medication and therapy have
been successful in alleviating symptomatology.
Although many people with this disorder find it to be
episodic ( periodic stressors can bring back
symptoms). This is why some patients with depression
can have ongoing relationships with a mental health
professional.
+ International Classification of
Disease
(ICD)
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ICD
Diagnostic tool
for;
Epidemiology
Clinical purposes
Health
management
n 
ICD is used to classify diseases and health problems.
n 
These are recorded through records for example health or death
certificates that provide compilation of national mortality rates
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DEPRESSIVE EPISODE
How does LCD describe
depression? Symptoms
are divided in 3
MILD –
MODERATE
patient is 4 symptoms
usually
and patient
distressed,
finds it
can carry
different to
out day to carry day to
day
day
activities
activities
SEVERE –
many
symptoms
including
suicidal
thoughts
Somatic (physical) symptoms
•  unusual sleeping patterns
•  weight loss
Similarities and differences in DSM
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and LCD for depression
DSM
LCD
Both LCD and DSM identify that depression is episodic. LCD identifies
that depression can occur in 3 states however can be a single episodes or
many. DSM recognizes that recent psychosocial stressors such as divorce
can lead to depression.
The symptoms identified in both DSM and LCD are similar. For example
lack of concentration, loss of energy and suicidal thoughts. ICD has
recognized that these suicidal thoughts are severe episodes.
These symptoms are not described
in DSM.
Recognizes fatigue, disturbed
sleeping patterns and somatic
symptoms such as weight loss.
Both of the systems agree with the main symptoms – can prevent a misdiagnosis from happening and provide the right form of treatment for the
patient