Recurrent depressive disorder describes the tendency of an individual to suffer recurrent episodes of depressed mood.

Recurrent depressive disorder has a spectrum of severity.

The characteristic features of a depressed patient are:

• in a mild to moderate case:
• a sad appearance
• sad feelings
• sad thought processes
• biological symptoms and sign of depression
• in a severe case:
• delusions of worthlessness, guilt, nihilism etc
• hallucinations, usually auditory
• suicidal ideation

The diagnostic criteria for major depression, mild depression and dysthymia are available in the linked item.