F32 vs F33
F33 — Recurrent depressive disorder
Distinguish a single depressive episode from recurrent depressive disorder using documented episode count.
This is just for your own thinking. It is never submitted, sent, or stored anywhere — it disappears the moment you leave or reload this page.
Show overlap — what both share
Both categories use the identical severity-and-psychotic-features gradient (mild, moderate, severe without psychotic, severe with psychotic) for the current episode, and can look identical in symptom picture and severity.
Show decisive evidence
- F32 requires no prior depressive episode and no prior manic/hypomanic episode.
- F33 requires at least one prior depressive episode, with no manic/hypomanic episode ever.
- A documented prior depressive episode, with recovery, followed by a new episode, is decisive for F33.
What weakens F32: A documented prior depressive episode weakens F32 and favours F33, regardless of the current episode's own severity.
Show duration / course
Each individual episode follows the same duration threshold in both categories (typically at least two weeks); what differs is whether this is the first such episode or a repeat.
Show exclusions / context
A vignette's statement (or omission) of prior episode history is the decisive fact — symptom picture and severity alone cannot distinguish these two categories.
Show information still needed
Whether any depressive episode has occurred before this one, and if so, whether there was genuine recovery in between.
Show the common trap
Grading the current episode's severity carefully but forgetting to check episode count, or assuming a first episode from context without the vignette actually stating it.
Mini challenge — practise this distinction
Apply the discriminating evidence above to a fresh case before checking the full feedback.