As a mental health professional with extensive experience in the field, I have a deep understanding of the various disorders and classifications outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This manual is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States and contains a multiaxial system for diagnosing mental disorders.

Depression, as a broad category, encompasses several types of mood disorders, and the DSM-5 provides specific criteria for diagnosing different forms of depression. One of the disorders mentioned in the DSM-5 is "Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" (DDNOS), which is a residual category for depressive symptoms that do not meet the full criteria for any specific depressive disorder. This category includes "Other Specified Depressive Disorder," which can be diagnosed when the individual's symptoms do not fit neatly into the criteria for major depressive disorder or persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia).

The criteria for "Other Specified Depressive Disorder" include the presence of a depressive episode with symptoms that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, but do not meet the full criteria for a major depressive episode. This can include having fewer than the required number of symptoms for a major depressive episode, or having symptoms that are atypical or not listed in the criteria for major depressive disorder.

It is important to note that the DSM-5 does not specifically list a disorder called "minor depression." However, the concept of "minor depression" has been discussed in the literature and is sometimes used to describe a subthreshold depressive disorder that does not meet the full criteria for major depressive disorder. The criteria for "Other Specified Depressive Disorder" in the DSM-5 can be used to diagnose individuals who present with depressive symptoms that are similar to those described in the literature as "minor depression."

In summary, while the term "depression" is not a specific disorder listed in the DSM-5, the manual does provide criteria for diagnosing various forms of depressive disorders, including "Other Specified Depressive Disorder," which can be used to diagnose individuals with depressive symptoms that do not meet the full criteria for major depressive disorder. It is crucial for mental health professionals to carefully assess the symptoms and severity of an individual's depression to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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These criteria for minor depression are similar to the criteria that are used in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) for the diagnosis, "Other specified depressive disorder, depressive episode with insufficient symptoms" (ie, the depressive ...read more >>