An Overview of Subsyndromal Symptomatic Depression

By definition, subsyndromal describes a person is exhibiting symptoms that are similar to but not severe enough for diagnosis as a clinically recognized syndrome. When applied to depression, subsyndromal symptomatic depression (SSD) indicates that a person's depression symptoms don't quite meet the criteria for a diagnosis of a major depressive episode. SSD can include people who experience brief, recurring episodes of depressive symptoms. 

Subsyndromal symptomatic depression was first identified and labeled in 1994 by researchers who defined it as two or more symptoms consistent with depression. Like depression, the symptoms must have been present for two weeks or more and have caused social dysfunction, such as isolation, withdrawal, or behavior changes.

Symptoms that develop on a daily or almost daily basis and that may occur in both SSD and major depression include:

• Feeling sad or depressed
• A significant change in appetite and/or weight
• Needing too much or not getting enough sleep
• Either being noticeably restless or being run down
• Not enjoying the activities you once did
• Feeling wiped out or fatigued
• Feeling hopeless, worthless, and/or guilty
• Having trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Having thoughts of death or suicide or suicidal behavior

The difference in these symptoms is that with major depression, you must have at least five of the symptoms to be diagnosed. With SSD, you may only experience two to four of these symptoms.

Early intervention is the key to successful treatment, so if mental health professionals note even mild depressive symptoms, treatment may very well be indicated to ensure that symptoms don't become worse. With studies showing that even mild symptoms can be disabling, it's important to help people with subsyndromal symptomatic depression and other depressive subthreshold disorders function at their best.

Depression is a complex condition and a range of factors can contribute to its onset. Some risk factors that increase the likelihood that a person will experience symptoms of depression include genetics, family history, abuse, trauma, some medications, major life changes, stress, illness, and substance use. 

In cases where a person is experiencing subsyndromal symptomatic depression, it means that they have many of the signs of depression, but not enough for a clinical diagnosis. There are a number of reasons why a person might not meet the diagnostic criteria for depression. They may have good coping skills or a strong social support system that makes it so that their symptoms don't impair functioning in different life areas as much as they might otherwise. 

However, having even mild symptoms of depression might also be a contributing cause to later clinical depression.

Many people have depressive symptoms that don't quite meet the criteria for being diagnosed with major depression.

Studies suggest that subsyndromal symptomatic depression has just as much of an impact on function and has the same risk factors as major depression. And subsyndromal depression also has the same negative effects on overall health as major depression does.

Some researchers believe that there is a spectrum of depression, from fewer symptoms to symptoms that don't last long to severe symptoms, and that all depressive episodes, despite their severity, have similar adverse effects on individuals.

Because of its detrimental effects, more research needs to be done on subtypes of depressive disorder. Researchers suggest that mental health professionals should take note of even minimal depressive symptoms since they are harmful to a person's overall health.

The same 2013 study notes that clinicians are very good at ruling out depression, but not nearly as successful at diagnosing it. This could be due to the thresholds that are set in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and the difficulties in assessing the significance of depressive symptoms. There is a challenge in identifying people who are close to the threshold of depression set out in the DSM. The researchers of this study came to the conclusion that further research is needed and that SSD should be classified on its own and potentially treated similarly to major depression.

Because subsyndromal symptomatic depression often goes without being diagnosed, it is thought to be undertreated. The available research suggests that psychotherapy and antidepressants may both be effective at reducing depressive symptoms as seen in people with major depressive disorder (MDD).

One study found that treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressants led to the improvement in symptoms and functioning, suggesting that low doses of SSRIs may be useful in alleviating SSD symptoms.

Studies have also shown that interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can also lead to improvements in functioning and decreases in depressive symptoms.

Self-care and lifestyle changes can also help people find relief. Some things that may help include getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, and having a strong social support system. Depression can often cause people to become more isolated, so reaching out to trusted friends and loved ones can be beneficial.

While subsyndromal symptomatic depression does not meet the diagnostic criteria for a major depressive episode, it can still have a significant impact on a person's life and functioning. Effective treatments including medications and psychotherapy can help people who are experiencing symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing feelings of depression, even if these symptoms are mild or if you only have a few of them. Help is available and your doctor can recommend treatments that will help you feel better.