A petition supported byTakeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. and Lundbeck U.S. calls on popular dictionaries, including Oxford Dictionary and Dictionary.com, to consider including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and all of the symptoms associated with it in their dictionaries.
The goal of the petition is to bring greater awareness to the disorder and its symptoms. The word ‘depression’ is often used to describe MDD, but it is just one form of the illness. By bringing attention to the definition of MDD specifically, the petition aims to raise awareness of the complexity and seriousness of the disorder so people can seek necessary help from a doctor.
The petition references symptoms from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), a highly regarded publication among medical professionals. In addition to depressed mood or sadness, MDD is a combination of other symptoms that negatively affect how an individual feels, thinks and acts including: changes in appetite or weight, loss of interest, sleeping too much or too little, loss of energy, restlessness or having slowed speech and movements, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or making decisions and thoughts of suicide. MDD includes five or more of these symptoms, including either depressed mood, or decreased interest or pleasure.
“It is important to educate people about the various symptoms of MDD, and we recognize that no one organization can effectively do this alone,” said Jason Bradt, Lundbeck’s vice president for medical affairs. “With support from the broader mental health community, we hope this petition starts a conversation to change the way people are thinking and talking about the disorder.”
SOURCE Takeda/Lundbeck Alliance
