A depressive episode is another name for severe depression @sco, which can also be termed unipolar disorder, clinical depression, major depression etc.. Too many names, right?The diagnosis of depression is totally categorical; that is to say, based on the symptoms you present. It seems like you had a cautious mental-health professional assisting you :) What I can tell by your brief explanation is that despite the fact that your symptoms met the criteria required for the diagnosis of a depressive episode, they did not seem to require aid from medication. A proof of this is the fact that you feel they have alleviated! So glad to hear that!
Don't get to caught up with the terms :) they are there just to help researchers and clinicians to do their job.
Thank you for your interesting comment!
phew, that IS complicated.
However, I think here in Austria the policy is much more restrictive towards psychotherapeutic drugs, than e. g. in the US.