[Corbeille (OP)]

What's the difference between being "depressed" and "clinically depressed", "obese" and "clinically obese" and any other condition prefixed with "clinical"?



you can't crack me I'm a rubber duck!

[neilep]

...I'm waiting for the punch line !!!!!...oh well !!..as far as I know the difference between "clinical" and "not clinical" is that "clinical" is deemed to be the diagnosed form of what ever the condition is after being seen by a doctor or specialist........until it's confirmed, it's non clinical.......

doctors and nurses here please clarify..ta

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[MayoFlyFarmer]

The way I understand it, as these conditions are not black and white, you have it or you don't things (like strep-throat).  They are more of a spectrum.  We're all a litle depressed, and compared to the olson-twins we're all a little obese.  So there (unfortunately in my opinion) has to be some sort of defined cut off line, for you to be diagnosed as needing treatment.  If you are over this pre-set standard you are "clinically-whatever".

That's no moon.... its a GRAPEFRUIT!!!!

[chris]

A good point well made Justin. Often people add the word 'clinical' to their diagnosis to make it sound more impressive. In many instances it's a bit redundant.

Regarding obesity, if you are obese you are also 'clinically obese' since the definition of obesity is a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and over. There is, however, a category of obesity referred to as 'morbid obesity' (which may be the same as your 'clinical' obesity) which essentially refers to people in whom their obesity is causing / shortly will cause severe health detriment - diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, cardiac failure, reflux, joint disease, infection.

It's similar with depression. Those people in whom depression is severely disabling and threatens their wellbeing (for instance they might be suicidal) are clinically depressed. But the point prevalence of depression is 20% - in other words, at any given time point, 1 person in 5 will report feelings of depression. But 20% of the population aren't suicidal - ask them a week later (when their exam is over or they have made up with their partner) and they'll report feeling happy. So, in this setting, clinical depression is used to describe someone with an entrenched mood disorder which threatens to affect their health and wellbeing.

Hope that helps !

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx

[neilep]

Was I wrong then ? (ho hum)

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[MayoFlyFarmer]

not really.....  i think we are all in agreement here.  (just not as smart as chris perhaps) []

That's no moon.... its a GRAPEFRUIT!!!!