How is depression diagnosed?!


Question: How is depression diagnosed?
Answers:

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It's usually judged psychologically by a professional, often going by these factors:

Inability to find joy in usually-pleasurable activities
Loss of interest in work
Reduced concentrations
Diminished or increased appetite
Unexplainable fatigue
Sleep disorders
Loss of sex drive
Withdrawal from friends and family
Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness
Desire to die
Low self-esteem

However, depression is not the same as being "down in the dumps" or feeling the blues. Clinical depression is characterized by a major depressive episode of at least three weeks.



Psychiatrists use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (a taxonomy of mental illnesses).

Major Depressive Episode

A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

Note: Do note include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.

(1) depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.

(2) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)

(3) significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.

(4) insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day

(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)

(6) fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

(7) feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)

(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)

(9) recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode.

C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).

E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.
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A person can monitor depressed mood using the Beck Depression Inventory, which is a self-diagnostic tool. It can be found at http://www.orlandocvi.com/documents/BeckDepressionInventory1.pdf. This is very useful in keeping track both for the patient and for the treating psychiatrist.

MentalHealthToday.com
http://www.mental-health-today.com/dep/dsm.htm and
http://www.orlandocvi.com/documents/BeckDepressionInventory1.pdf



the way depression is identified, is by telling other how you feel, and the actual feelings/emoations you have. a person,best friend, family member, will not be able to see you depressed as usually a person with this illness, would hide there emoations and put on a mask, to look happy.

of course there are symptoms as listed in the other answers, insomnia, no interest in enjoyable things you did in activities. the person is then treated with antidepressents, they boost the chemical in the brain which makes us feel happier, but they dont actully do the cure for you, they may help a little in a way, but docs, councilors psycols are also needed... its all about changing your thinkinf to be positive, and haveing belief in urself!!

experience!!



The lack of Seretonin inside your brain. It's the hormone which makes you feel better about yourself. They just simply test you for it. 50% of depression is not diagnosed. Which means that thousands of people out there just simply do not know that they are depressed. It's an illness, never forget that.

Health Class



go to the doctor and tell them how you feel




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