The Evidence on Low Mood and Depression, Without the Hype
It is common and treatable, and the length of time symptoms have persisted is the thing that distinguishes it from ordinary unhappiness.
Key takeaways
- Threshold for seeing a GP: symptoms most days for 2 weeks or more
- Core symptoms: low mood and loss of interest or pleasure
- Most useful single change: Keep a routine, particularly a fixed wake time.
- Commonest mistake: Waiting for it to lift on its own beyond a fortnight.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What it is
Persistent low mood and loss of interest, lasting most of the day, most days. It sits within Mental Health. The figures come from the bodies named at the foot of this page.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Threshold for seeing a GP | symptoms most days for 2 weeks or more |
| Core symptoms | low mood and loss of interest or pleasure |
| First-line options, less severe | guided self-help, CBT, group exercise |
| Physical activity | recommended as part of management |
| Samaritans, free, any hour | 116 123 |
What helps
What follows is the practical part: the things guidance actually asks of you.
- Keep a routine, particularly a fixed wake time
- Get outside within a couple of hours of waking
- Tell one person, which is consistently the hardest and most useful step
- Use the treatment you are offered alongside, not instead of, these
What to avoid
The common mistakes, including the ones that sound sensible.
- Waiting for it to lift on its own beyond a fortnight
- Alcohol, which worsens mood and sleep
- Stopping prescribed medication without discussing it first
Where to go next
- The First Steps With Low Mood and Depression
- Low Mood and Depression: The Questions People Actually Ask
- Low Mood and Depression — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Anxiety, Without the Hype
- Burnout: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP if low mood has lasted most days for two weeks or more, or sooner if it is severe. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, contact your GP, call NHS 111, or call the Samaritans free on 116 123 at any hour. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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