What Are the ICD-10 Criteria for Depression?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryCriteriaTypesHow ICD-10 Is UsedTips for Using the ICD-10Pitfalls of Using the ICD-10ICD-10 vs. ICD-11

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

History

Criteria

Types

How ICD-10 Is Used

Tips for Using the ICD-10

Pitfalls of Using the ICD-10

ICD-10 vs. ICD-11

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History of the ICD-10 Criteria for Depression

While the ICD-10 criteria for depression are similar to those in the DSM, there are some important differences. For example, the ICD-10 does not recognize premenstrual dysphoric disorder as a separate depression diagnosis, whereas the DSM does.

The ICD-10 criteria for depression are also used in many other countries besides the United States. In fact, they are used in most of the world.

ICD-10 Criteria for Depression

There are a number of items on the ICD-10 criteria fordepressionchecklist.Below are some examples:

A diagnosis of depression requires that an individual has at least five of these symptoms for two weeks or more. Additionally, at least one of the symptoms must be either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Types of ICD-10 Criteria for Depression

There are multiple types of depression that can be coded using ICD-10 criteria. Below are two of the most common:

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

How the ICD-10 Criteria for Depression Are Used

The ICD-10 criteria for depression are used in a number of ways. First, they are used to diagnose patients. Second, they are used to research the prevalence of depression and to study the course and outcome of the disorder. Finally, they are used to develop treatment plans and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.

Tips for Using the ICD-10 Criteria for Depression

If you are using the ICD-10 criteria for depression todiagnose a patient, it is important to remember that the criteria are just a starting point. In order to make a diagnosis, you will need to gather more information from the patient. This can be done through interviews, questionnaires, and other assessment tools.

It is also important to keep in mind that the ICD-10 criteria for depression are not perfect. They have some limitations. For example, they do not take into account all of the possible symptoms of depression. Additionally, they may misclassify some people who do not have the disorder.

If you are using the ICD-10 criteria for depression to research the prevalence of depression or to study the course and outcome of the disorder, it is important to be aware of these limitations.

Pitfalls of Using the ICD-10 Criteria for Depression

One of the pitfalls of using the ICD-10 criteria for depression is that they are not without limitations. As mentioned above, they may misclassify some people who do not have the disorder. Additionally, they do not take into account all of the possible manifestations of depression.

Another pitfall of using the ICD-10 criteria for depression is that they are based onself-report. This means that they rely on people’s ability to accurately report their own symptoms. This can be a problem because people with depression may not be able to accurately report their symptoms.

A final pitfall of using the ICD-10 criteria for depression is that they are based on Western notions of mental illness. This means that they may not be applicable to people fromother cultures.

Despite these pitfalls, the ICD-10 criteria for depression are still a useful tool. They can be used to diagnose patients, to research the prevalence of depression, and to study the course and outcome of the disorder.

Differences Between the ICD-10 and ICD-11 Criteria

ICD-10A depression diagnosis requires 2 weeks of low mood.ICD-11A depression diagnosis does not require 2 weeks of low mood.Includes new category “mixed anxiety and depression”

ICD-10A depression diagnosis requires 2 weeks of low mood.

A depression diagnosis requires 2 weeks of low mood.

ICD-11A depression diagnosis does not require 2 weeks of low mood.Includes new category “mixed anxiety and depression”

A depression diagnosis does not require 2 weeks of low mood.

Includes new category “mixed anxiety and depression”

TheICD-11was released on May 25, 2019, and includes some changes to the ICD-10 criteria for depression. The most notable change is that the ICD-11 no longer requires that a person has at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in order to be diagnosed with depression.

Additionally, the ICD-11 includes a new category called “mixed anxiety and depression.” This category is for people who have symptoms of both anxiety and depression but who do not meet the criteria for either disorder.

A Word From Verywell

The ICD-10 criteria for depression are a useful tool, but they are not perfect. If you are using them to diagnose a patient, it is important to remember that they are just a starting point.

In order to make a diagnosis, you will need to gather more information from the patient. Additionally, keep in mind that the ICD-10 criteria for depression are based on Western notions of mental illness and may not be applicable to people from other cultures.

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.International Classification of Diseases,Tenth Revision (ICD-10).World Health Organization.ICD-11: Classifying disease to map the way we live and die.AAPC.Coding for Major Depressive Disorder.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.International Classification of Diseases,Tenth Revision (ICD-10).World Health Organization.ICD-11: Classifying disease to map the way we live and die.AAPC.Coding for Major Depressive Disorder.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.International Classification of Diseases,Tenth Revision (ICD-10).World Health Organization.ICD-11: Classifying disease to map the way we live and die.AAPC.Coding for Major Depressive Disorder.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.International Classification of Diseases,Tenth Revision (ICD-10).

World Health Organization.ICD-11: Classifying disease to map the way we live and die.

AAPC.Coding for Major Depressive Disorder.

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