label: Pathological sadness
label_lc: pathological sadness
description: A negative emotional state characterized by sadness, unhappiness, or sorrow that is excessive in intensity, duration, or resistance to self-regulation compared with culturally appropriate norms or the individual's usual emotional range. It may arise spontaneously or in response to significant life events, but when reactive, it is disproportionate to or persists beyond what is typically expected for the context. Pathological sadness can be associated with feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, anhedonia, and a pessimistic outlook, but these features are not invariably present. It may also be accompanied by increased tearfulness, low energy, cognitive difficulties such as impaired concentration, and somatic changes including disrupted sleep or appetite.