What kind of testing is done...?!
Question: to determine if someone is going through depression or not? Does the doctor just ask you questions about yourself and your life or is there somekind of blood testing or some other testing involved also?
For awhile now I have been thinking that I am going through some kind of major depression or something but I dont even know how to approach the subject with my doctor. So thats why I am wondering what kind of testing is done to determine depression?
Thanks for any help that anyone can provide!
Answers: to determine if someone is going through depression or not? Does the doctor just ask you questions about yourself and your life or is there somekind of blood testing or some other testing involved also?
For awhile now I have been thinking that I am going through some kind of major depression or something but I dont even know how to approach the subject with my doctor. So thats why I am wondering what kind of testing is done to determine depression?
Thanks for any help that anyone can provide!
Nope, just Q and A type of stuff to screen for depression. Unless there are other inexplicable non-depression-like symptoms, blood tests and other physical tests are rarely done. I don't think a general practitioner (regular doctor) would be the best choice to test you for depression, however. They can refer you to someone that can, though,...
Just tell your (regular) doctor that you have been feeling really depressed lately, and would like them to refer you to a psychogist or a psychiatrist that can screen you and help you. A psychologist is the "talking" doctor, and a psychiatrist is the doctor that generally writes more prescriptions than does counseling sessions. Might want to go with a psychiatrist for now, since if medication is warranted, it will save you a trip.
There's a few standardized tests that a psychiatrist will give you, but probably not a General Doctor. The things is, if you're not honest, it messes up the test. For me, when I was at my worst, I was tired all the time, crying all the time, and I felt like I had just run a marathon everyday. My head was constantly pounding, and I was really bleak about the future. My digestive system got messed up as well.
If you're in deep depression, it takes more than exercise and positive thinking to get out. I would suggest seeing a psychiatrist if you want to get formally tested. But a regular doctor will most likely prescribe you an antidepressant if you tell them how you're feeling.
The way to determine if one is depressed is by answering a series of specific questions. There are some excellent websites
dedicated to helping you understand if you are suffering from depression. I suggest that you do a Google search on "depression" and check out some of the websites. And of course it would also be a good idea to discuss this with a doctor and to let a family member know that you may be depressed. Good luck.
1024 is right. You can definitely start with your regular MD. They can recognize depression, bipolar, and other mental illnesses. Also they can prescribe meds. I started with my MD, who noticed the symptoms before I did. She got me on the right road.
Hmmmmm questionnaires......... Yes Dr.s judge you solely on questionnaires, even some councilors give you the old depression tests. Really you need to stop and take a look at yourself. What have you got going for you and what seems to bother you and hold you back. Obviously if the bad outweighs the good, you might want to seek help somewhere, friends, family or even proffesionally. If the good outweighs the bad, hey, you're in pretty good shape. Don't sweat the small stuff.