Tests and Diagnosis for Depression

While depression is a serious illness that is often easily controlled with a prescription antidepressant, it is not always easily identified. Sadness is a part of a normal, healthy lifestyle. When sadness becomes depression, the repercussions can be major. Many people have difficulty drawing the distinction between normal sadness and depression.

There are many ways to differentiate between the two. A quick online search for depression tests will bring forth several useful tools to help make the decision about seeing a medical professional. These tests are designed simply to help identify a condition severe enough to consult a doctor. The tests themselves are not intended to diagnose depression.

Most of the publicly available depression tests only promote awareness of signs and symptoms of depression. Some will act as depression screening tests. The idea is to take inventory of personal experiences. Once that is done, a decision to make the trip to a doctor should be much clearer.

The Goldberg Depression questionnaire is a quick test consisting of 18 questions that revolve around how a person approaches daily activities. It also asks about some emotional topics such as frequency of sadness or hopelessness as well as interest levels and views of the future.

Another good depression test, developed by Dr. R. Philip Snaith, is the Wakefield Self-report Questionnaire. This test is designed to point out high level depression symptoms that would indicate the potential need for medical consultation and possible antidepressant therapy. The focus of the questions is primarily on the common physical symptoms of fatigue, restlessness and difficulty sleeping. The questions about emotional symptoms are directed toward frequency of occurrence and depth of emotion.

Dr. John A. Rush devised a popular 30 question test called the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology to develop a shorter test referred to as QIDS Self Report. This 16 question test covers many of the same topics but also adds appetite and weight change symptoms to the list. It is also one of the few tests that asks about both increases and decreases in many of the symptoms, since a dramatic change in behavior can indicate depression regardless of whether it is an increase or decrease of the symptomatic behavior.

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale helps measure the typical symptoms of depression from a short-term viewpoint. This test is one of the most common tools used by the general public to determine their depression quotient. The questions look at things that have been experienced in the last week. It asks for a response of how many days during the week an emotion or behavior is experienced rather than a general statement of the frequency or severity. This test is interested in the dual nature of the questions. Some of the questions are directed at identifying the frequency of positive emotion and positive thoughts. This will help reveal the balance in a person's life, which can demonstrate the severity of depressive symptoms.

Depression symptoms can manifest differently across age groups. For this reason, a test for older adults has been developed. The Geriatric Rating Scale can be found either in its full format or a shorter, more accessible, 15-question version. Each question requires a simple 'yes' or 'no ' answer. They are centered on the typical attitude and outlook topics as well as the physical issues of sleep and fatigue. The test looks at positive and negative aspects of life, similar to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. It also asks more questions about social habits than many of the other tests that are available.

The idea of testing for depression is not a new idea. If the personal self-tests lead a person to consult with a medical professional, the doctor may ask many of the same questions. The clinical test that doctors perform will not always be aimed at identifying depression. Many tests done during the diagnosis phase are aimed at ruling out other causes of the same symptoms. Some serious medical conditions which are physical will create the same symptoms that depression does. Ruling out these physical symptoms will prevent the unnecessary prescription of antidepressant medication and help pinpoint the true nature of the problem.

Physical exams or lab tests could reveal conditions like cancer or thyroid disease, which often exhibit some of the same symptoms as depression. Treatment of these conditions will often reduce or eliminate the depression-like symptoms being experienced. True depression could also be revealed through this process, and the treatment of the physical condition may reduce the depression symptoms in these cases as well.

Many central nervous system illnesses or hormonal disorders will exhibit symptoms similar to depression. Ruling out these potential conditions will help a doctor identify if an antidepressant medication is needed. Medication for other medical conditions or even over-the-counter medications can sometimes be associated with or cause symptoms of depression. Illegal drug use or alcohol abuse can be another catalyst for depression. Drug and alcohol abuse can also be a symptom of depression.

Many doctors will be able to identify the need for antidepressant treatment of depression with a simple physical exam and a short period of verbal questioning. A doctor may also order blood tests or other more in depth exams. An EEG, CT scan, or MRI can easily eliminate the possibility of nervous system disorders or brain tumors as a cause of the symptoms.

A doctor may administer a test similar to the personal self-reports. The Beck Depression Inventory is one of the most popular of these tests. It is not publicly available, which prevents people from taking the assessment at home. The doctor may even have a patient take one of the other publicly available tests.

Once a doctor makes the diagnosis of depression, there can be several courses of action. Many doctors prefer an antidepressant medication. Other medical professionals may recommend psychotherapy in addition or in place of the antidepressant. Whatever the doctor recommends, it is important for the patient to follow the doctor’s instructions and consult the doctor before making any changes to the treatment.