Depression Diagnosis

Special imaging tests, such as electroencephalography (EEG), can detect the effects of depression in the brain. The tests allow doctors and researchers to study the electrical activity of the brain. The activity of certain parts of the brain,... Full Answer

The time it takes to diagnose depression depends on the testing method your mental healthcare provider uses. During your appointment, he or she will ask a number of questions about how you’re feeling and your family’s history of... Full Answer

The American Heart Association suggests that all people with heart problems get screened for depression. This is because of the strain that depression can put on the heart. Talk to your doctor about getting screened for depression. Full Answer

Depression can actually be a symptom of other conditions, so if you're exhibiting symptoms of depression, your doctor may first conduct a physical exam or do blood tests to rule out other causes. You will probably be questioned about your symptoms, both... Full Answer

With depression, the most important first step is to get an accurate diagnosis. Note that certain physical health conditions can cause feelings of sadness, lethargy, and lack of motivation, so it’s important to first make sure that what... Full Answer

Sometimes people think they are clinically depressed when they are really just experiencing a reasonable reaction to a difficult life circumstance. Additionally, since depression symptoms include difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite -- both of which... Full Answer

Mild-to-moderate depression -- termed dysthymic disorder, or dysthymia -- is marked by milder symptoms than major depression, but the symptoms are prolonged and protracted. Dysthymia is characterized by depressed mood for most of the day, on more... Full Answer

If someone is experiencing a depressive episode, the assumption is usually that it's a unipolar depression (as opposed to bipolar disorder) unless there are really strong indicators of bipolar disorder (for example, the patient has spoken with her... Full Answer

Depression can be especially confusing to diagnose as we get older. For one thing, it shares many symptoms and is often diagnosed in tandem with anxiety. For another, depression is often associated with dementia (in fact, the nickname for dementia is... Full Answer

You can help diagnose whether you have a problem by doing this self-check. You likely have depression if you have one or both of the following symptoms during a two-week period: A sad, depressed, or irritable mood all day long on most days. Sharply... Full Answer