Depression and Harry in OotP

[anthyroserain]

No: HPFGUIDX 110685

Psyche:
> "And the diagnostic list of symptoms:
>  Low mood or marked loss of pleasure
>  Significant change in appetite and marked weight loss
>  Sleep disturbance
>  Agitation or feelings of being slowed down
>  Feeling fatigued
>  Feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteen, tendency to feel guilty
>  Inability to concentrate
>  Thoughts of death and suicide.

Del:
> Well then I don't think Harry was depressed in OoP.
[snip]
> So no I don't think Harry is depressed. He has low mood episodes, 
when
> things go particularly wrong, but that's normal. He's full of anger
> and especially of frustration, but that's absolutely normal under 
the
> circumstances.


Katie, now:

I agree with Del here. Harry is under so much stress (an unbelievable 
amount, especially for a kid!) in OOTP that it's bound to affect his 
mood, but he doesn't seem to suffer from these symptoms most of the 
time. He's a normal teenager in extraordinary circumstances. Harry's 
mood is so unusually level most of the time that I'd guess he 
probably isn't chemically predisposed to depression at all. (Funny, 
saying that about a fictional character...)

However, I stand by my previous supposition (if anybody remembers it) 
that Sirius does seem to be clinically depressed in OOTP. I also 
think it partially explains some of his reckless behavior.

-Katie