Sadness v Depression
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jan 22, 2021
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - 4.45am
PETER wakes up.
PETER (V.O.): Well, I've slept for less than one round. Let me try again.
Peter rows over in bed from time to time.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Can't fall sleep again.
Getting up, Peter grabs his phone and researches.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Am I experiencing DSM-5 symptoms?
FLASHBACK
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Over dinner, Peter is discussing with his SON.
PETER: In court today, I cross-examined vigorously an expert - a psychiatrist as old as me. He testified the accused didn't have the criminal intent while shoplifting.
Act 2
INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): I challenged his criteria in diagnosing the accused as suffering from Major Mental Disorder (MDD).
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): When the expert said he followed the American standard, I recited the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
SON: Yes, DSM-5.
PETER: Yes, it's the 5th Edition...So DSM-5. I see. Is this common knowledge?
SON: Not quite.
PETER: The defence counsel interrupted by saying that I was giving expert evidence myself.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): As I research on the philosophical issue of determination and freewill, I've learned from scientists that humans have the capacity to make the right decision within milliseconds.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So, when I put this as my last question to the psychiatrist, I knew the expert couldn't deny the science.
Peter's son nods.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): See if I can diagnose my mental condition.
Peter reads texts on his phone screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're 2 main criteria: (1) depressed mood and (2) anhedonia.
Reading
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to (1) depressed mood, I've negative emotions as I feel sad, having lost 2 close relatives within a week.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to (2) anhedonia, do I no longer feel any pleasure or interest in the things I once enjoyed? I haven't stopped running and dancing.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But if I've either (1) depressed mood or (2) anhedonia, I can be diagnosed as depressed.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since I've (1) depressed mood, I need to consider other secondary symptoms.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For somatic or body-related symptoms, I've sleeping difficulties.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For non-somatic symptoms, I just feel low.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I had 5 of the 9 symptoms listed in DSM-5, a diagnosis of depression is recommended...I've got only 3.
Reading
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, there's one rider on duration. For the diagnosis of MDD, the patient would have to experience the symptoms most of the day every day during one 2-week period.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Am I OK? Or my depression hasn't yet started?
Act 3
EXT. PARK - NIGHT
In an open space, Peter is practising steps of Waltz, Jive and Cha-Cha-Cha.
PETER (V.O.): I'll do more while I still can.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT
Sitting in bed, Peter is reading texts on his phone screen.
PETER (V.O.): I've also found out the difference between sadness and depression.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Sadness is a normal human emotion. It usually passes with time. Only when it doesn't would it be one of the symptoms of depression.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Depression is a mental disorder that overpowers a person's life.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I won't let that happen to me. See if I can sleep well again.
Putting on his eye-mask, Peter tries to sleep.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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