Vegetative symptoms of Depression
- Vegetative functions of the body include the processes like ingestion, digestion, excretion and sleep which are necessary for the basic functioning of the body.
- In cases of depression, these processes are impaired
What are the vegetative symptoms of Depression?
- Vegetative symptoms of depression are disorders of basic biological functions seen in individuals with depression.
- They include:
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Change in bowel habits – Depression is associated with constipation
- Change in sleep pattern (insomnia) – Individuals complain of difficulty in falling asleep and waking up early in the morning
- To be considered as a vegetative symptom of depression, they should not be attributable to any other physical / mental disorder
- It is very important to rule out other causes as these vegetative symptoms may be an indicator of serious medical or surgical illness
Reversed vegetative symptoms of Depression
- In some individuals, the symptoms described above are experienced in reverse.
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Hypersomnia (increased sleep)
- These features are seen in atypical depression
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