of medical conditions, such as Cushing’s di sease. The association of anxiety symptoms,
usually generalized symptoms, is common in depressive disorders, regardless of cause.
Other Specified Depressive Disorder
311 (F32.8)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a depressive
disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or
other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of
the disorders in the depressive disorders di agnostic class. The other specified depressive
disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses to communicate the
specific reason that the presentation does not meet the criteria for any specific depressive
disorder. This is done by recording “other specified depressive disorder” followed by the
specific reason (e.g., “short-duration depressive episode”).
Examples of presentations that can be specified using the “other specified” designation
include the following:
1.Recurrent brief depression:  Concurrent presence of depressed mood and at least
four other symptoms of depression for 2–13 days at least once per month (not associ-
ated with the menstrual cycle) for at least 12 consecutive months in an individual
whose presentation has never met criteria for any other depressive or bipolar disorder
and does not currently meet active or residual criteria for any psychotic disorder.
2.Short-duration depressi ve episode (4–13 days): Depressed affect and at least four
of the other eight symptoms of a major depressive episode associated with clinically
significant distress or impairment that persists for more than 4 days, but less than 14 days,
in an individual whose presentation has never  met criteria for any other depressive or
bipolar disorder, does not currently meet active  or residual criteria for any psychotic dis-
order, and does not meet criteria for recurrent brief depression.