MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER: DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent diagnoses today, mainly due to the various risk factors that exist. However, despite its recurrence, the difficulties and diagnostic errors related to this disorder are visible, whether with other psychiatric conditions, but also with diverse clinical conditions, since its set of symptoms adds to the patient's subjectivity, making accurate diagnosis and subsequent definition of treatment difficult. In this sense, this narrative review seeks to define its main differential diagnoses, such as: hypothyroidism, Wilson's disease and hypovitaminosis B12, with their epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment. In addition to predicting future perspectives in relation to the diagnosis of major depression, with more established models such as the DSM and the ICD, and newer and more promising models, such as the RDoC, based on the difficulties encountered in each of them, their positive and negative points, aiming at improving the clinical practice of both professionals specialized in mental health and general practitioners.