Depression Test

If you have been depressed for a while and are planning to visit your doctor, it is a good idea gathering some information about this condition along with gender and depression as well. Doctors will first ask you to go through a depression test to find out the extent of the condition.

About Tests For Depression

Not all tests your doctor may ask you to do relate directly to depression. Based on your symptoms, your physician will first ask for a few tests to rule out medical conditions and effects of manic depression that may be causing them and diagnose clinical depression. At the onset, your doctor will first examine you physically. To make sure that your depression symptoms are not related to conditions such as cancer or thyroid, they will ask for certain lab tests. If the depression diagnosis shows that the symptoms are due to any other biological illness, treating that illness will relieve depression.

Diagnosing Depression Accurately Is Very Important

Doctors must conduct the right depression test and must take accurate history from the patient or his family to evaluate the condition perfectly and start treatment. It is the responsibility of patients to list out all the symptoms accurately. The overall health of the patient will be revealed by the physical examination. Other aspects relevant to depression diagnosis can be found out by talking to the patient.

Evaluating The Patient’s Condition

Tests for depression include regular monitoring and reporting of the patient’s daily behaviors, moods and lifestyle habits. Lab tests and personal interview will rule out other causes of the condition. Discussing about the family history of similar mental illness or depression will complete the diagnostic evaluation. Depression symptoms will be evaluated by the doctor based on the duration you have been suffering from the illness and any prior treatment administered.

Symptoms Of Depression Used For Evaluation

Depression test prescribed is usually based on symptoms experienced by the patient. Some of the common symptoms include loss of interest in day to day activities, feeling low, depressed and sad through the day, restlessness, excessive sleep or insomnia, significant weight gain or loss, excessive fatigue, suicidal thoughts, lack of concentration and a strong feeling of guilt, worthlessness and hopelessness.

Other Standard Tests For Depression

After the initial physical exam, other standard tests may be prescribed by your doctor to make an accurate depression diagnosis. Patients will have to check electrolytes with blood tests and do tests like kidney and liver function. Depression medications are usually processed and flushed out of the system with the help of liver and kidneys and it is important for these organs to be in good condition. Depending on the severity of your depression symptoms, your doctor may prescribe other tests such as MRI or CT scan of the brain to rule out brain tumor and other serious illnesses, EEG or Electroencephalogram that records your brain’s electrical activity and ECG or Electrocardiogram to rule out heart problems.

Screening for depression also includes personal interviews where you doctor will discuss your mood swings and aspects that affect your life. All these tests give a clear picture to your doctor about your condition making it easier to start treatment.