Persistent sadness or empty mood
A pervasive low or empty mood that persists over an extended period, often described as emotional flatness, hollowness, or a sense that nothing feels meaningful or alive.
Quick answer
Persistent sadness or empty mood (ICD-10: R45.2; ICD-11: MB27) is the core diagnostic feature of major depressive disorder and dysthymia. CBT, behavioural activation, and aerobic exercise have the strongest evidence. Red flag: empty mood with suicidal ideation requires immediate clinical assessment.
Recognition
Do any of these feel familiar?
Persistent feeling of sadness, emptiness, or numbness
Absence of positive emotion even in previously enjoyable situations
Emotional flatness or disconnection from life
Inability to feel hope or look forward to anything
Crying without obvious cause or inability to cry at all
What is Persistent sadness or empty mood?
A pervasive low or empty mood that persists over an extended period, often described as emotional flatness, hollowness, or a sense that nothing feels meaningful or alive.
Approaches Commonly Explored
Commonly explored for conditions related to Persistent sadness or empty mood, grouped by mechanism — select your subtype above to highlight the most relevant path.
How to use these approaches
Most people begin with Stabilise approaches, then progress toward Resolve and Sustain.
Cognitive patterns, emotional processing, and stress response.
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