Tests for Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is a mental illness caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that cause both physical and emotional problems. Depression affects both the mind and the body, and it is generally considered a chronic condition requiring long-term treatment and care. Although depression is one of the most common medical conditions in people worldwide, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. This is for many reasons, including the stigma of mental illness and because symptoms can be mistaken for other medical conditions or are not noted by a person's primary doctor.

Symptoms

• Depression symptoms vary greatly from person to person, which is one reason why diagnosis can be difficult. Common symptoms include feeling weak or tired, weight loss or weight gain, loss of interest in hobbies or activities, difficulty sleeping, feeling sad or hopeless, trouble concentrating or making decisions, loss of interest in sex, and crying spells.

Screenings

• Some doctors include depression questionnaires or screenings as part of routine medical visits, such as physicals or annual checkups. Doctors may also conduct a screening if a patient presents with some of the common signs and symptoms of depression. These questionnaires ask a series of questions to determine if a patient is showing signs of depression. Mental health professionals who are trying to determine if a patient has depression often use two screening tools: the Hamilton Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory.

Psychological Evaluation

• If health professionals suspect a patient is clinically depressed or a patient himself believes he is depressed, they may refer him for a psychological evaluation by a mental health professional. Typically, the evaluation involves speaking with a medical or mental health doctor about your behavior and your thoughts and feelings. You'll be asked how your behavior and moods are affecting your life and about any symptoms of depression you might have and when you began noticing them. The evaluation will also include questions about whether you are having suicidal thoughts or have thought about hurting yourself.

Physical Exam

• When clinical depression is suspected, your doctor or another medical professional may also perform a physical exam and take a complete medical history. This can help rule out other medical conditions that may have symptoms similar to depression. Your doctor may also order some routine blood tests, including a complete blood count and thyroid test, to make sure another medical condition is not causing symptoms similar to those of depression.

Treatment

• Several treatment options are available for people diagnosed with clinical depression. Prescription antidepressants are often prescribed to help alter brain chemistry, which can help improve mood. Among the classifications of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Many mental health professionals will recommend psychotherapy in addition to antidepressant medications. Therapy allows patients to talk about their lives and their condition in either an individual or group setting. People with depression who do not respond well to medication or who are suicidal may undergo electroconvulsive therapy to treat the condition. ECT involves the use of electrical currents to trigger a brain seizure.