Masked depression otherwise known as abortive depression, subdepression, minor depression, depression equivalent, is not distinguished as a separate entity in the ICD 10 classification. However, clinical experience confirms the existence of this condition. The patient's depression manifests itself indirectly through symptoms different from those of the typical illness.
Symptoms and course depression
These include headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, anxiety, dizziness, gastrointestinal disorders, angina syndrome, intellectual impairment, and disturbances in diurnal rhythms.
Symptoms of depression are variable in intensity throughout the day, often greatest in the morning. Lowering of baseline mood is not present.
When to go to the doctor and treating depression?
A doctor should be seen when depressive symptoms impede daily functioning, limit social life, family life.
Treatment depression
Although the treatment of depression is carried out by a psychiatrist, it is very important to have the support of the household, understanding, acceptance, activation of the patient. Before a diagnosis is made, organic causes of the complaints must always be excluded. Treatment with antidepressants is effective, as in typical depression.
