Signs & Symptoms of Endogenous Depression

Endogenous depression is another name for unipolar depression or major depression. The word endogenous means "starts from within," but its workings are still mysterious to medical science. It can be difficult to recognize.

• Sadness is oppressive with endogenous depression

Signs

• Signs are what a doctor observes about a patient with endogenous depression. These include significant weight changes, a change in the patient's ability to concentrate and lack of personal grooming.

Physical Symptoms

• According to the Mayo Clinic, a patient with major depression may feel tired all of the time, have changes in appetite and sleep patterns and chronic pains.

Emotional Symptoms

• According to the National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI), a patient with major depression feels lack of interest in anything, feels hopeless, guilty, sad, angry, constant frustration and suicidal.

Time Frame

• According to "The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness: Recognizing Symptoms & Getting Treatment" by Bodie Morey and Kim T. Muesser, signs and symptoms of endogenous depression last for more than two weeks.

Significance

• A person with major depression may think he is beyond help and will not go seek it. It may be up to a friend or family member to make the person go get help.