Diagnosing Depression

If you feel that you have depression symptoms, getting an accurate diagnosis is important. Diagnosing depression rightly can help you find out the type of depression or loneliness you have. Mood disorders often show common symptoms. However, a doctor can distinguish the symptoms of a particular disorder you have from other disorders. He/she makes depression diagnosis by taking blood tests, thyroid tests and making psychological evaluation.

Depression Diagnosis Complicated

Diagnosing depression is often complicated just like finding the bipolar disorder triggers are as well, as it can manifest in various ways.  Some patients may become agitated or irritable, while some others withdraw into a state of apathy.  Eating and sleeping patterns may also change from patient to patient. Some patients may eat and sleep excessively, while some others do not feel hungry and they have trouble sleeping or falling asleep.  The doctor conducts a physical examination and a personal interview. He/she also checks whether you have a family history of depression or any other mental health problems. The doctor takes depression test to evaluate the symptoms, which include when they started and how severe they are.

Depression Diagnosis Information

Depression diagnosis includes asking questions about the way you feel. If you feel depressed most of the day, lost interest in activities that were once enjoyable, suffer from insomnia or excessive sleep almost daily or feel fatigue, the doctor may diagnose that the symptoms are due to clinical depression.  You also need to tell the doctor whether you feel hopeless, worthless or have recurring suicidal or death thoughts. This can help the doctor in diagnosing depression accurately.

Types of Depression

In order to be diagnosed with one of the types of depression, you need to have at least five symptoms that last for two weeks or more and may interfere with your ability to perform day to day activities. The doctor may also require you to undergo lab test, as some physical condition like hyperthyroidism may also cause depression symptoms.  The doctor also requires you to provide the list of medications and supplements you are taking for making depression diagnosis.

Depression Test

You can help the doctor by preparing well for the depression test. Make a list of physical and mental issues you have, symptoms you have been experiencing, past illness, your lifestyle and diet details, any recent stressful events in your life, unusual side effects of drugs you have taken and unusual behaviors you have.  Depression test helps the doctor to understand the causes of your depression and severity of your symptoms.

The doctor may ask you several questions to understand whether you have any coexisting conditions like anxiety disorder, eating disorder, alcohol or substance abuse or migraine headaches. Based on your answers, medical reports and discussions with your family members, the doctor may come to a conclusion about the types of depression you have.

Depression is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior, it is crucial to diagnose the disorder as early as possible. The doctor not only determines the types of depression, but also evaluates your suicidal risks. He/she then prescribes antidepressants, psychotherapy or a combination of both to ease the symptoms and improve the quality of your life.