nondepressed

Nondepressed is an adjective used to describe an individual who is not currently experiencing depressive symptoms or meeting criteria for a depressive disorder. It is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis; rather, it serves as a descriptive label in clinical notes, research, or everyday language to indicate the absence of clinically significant depression at a particular time.

In clinical practice, nondepressed is distinguished from related terms such as remission or euthymia. Remission refers to a state in which depressive symptoms have diminished or disappeared for a period, while euthymia denotes a stable, typical mood not characterized by depression or mania. Because mood can fluctuate, a person described as nondepressed may still be at risk for future depressive episodes or may have subthreshold symptoms that do not meet full diagnostic criteria.

Assessment of a nondepressed state relies on patient reports, clinical interviews, and standardized measures. Tools such as the PHQ-9 or structured diagnostic interviews help determine whether depressive symptoms are present and to what extent. A low score or the absence of persistent symptoms supports a nondepressed status, but clinicians also consider functional impairment, history, and comorbid conditions.

The term is relatively broad and may be less precise than phrases like “no current major depressive episode” or “in remission from major depressive disorder.” In everyday language, nondepressed can simply indicate a period of improved mood relative to an earlier episode. See also depression, mood disorders, remission, euthymia.