Diagnostic Tests for Depressive symptoms
Diagnostic Test list for Depressive symptoms:
The list of diagnostic tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Depressive symptoms
includes:
- Physical examination
- Examine for possible causes of physical illness that may cause depression or present as depression
- Mental state examination - including appearance, behavior, rate and continuity of speech, mood, affect, thought content, evidence of any hallucinations or abnormal beliefs, orientation to time, place and person, attention and concentration, short-term memory, insight and judgement.
- Blood tests (to rule out specific causes of depression)
- Full blood count
- ESR
- Electrolytes and renal function tests
- Syphilis screening
- Thyroid function tests
- Serum cortisol and cortisol suppression test - if suspect Cushing's syndrome.
- Serum FSH and estradiol level - if suspect menopause.
- Epstein-Barr serology - postinfective state may present with depression-like symptoms.
- Radiological investigations
- CT scan Brain - to rule out brain cancer, especially if there is no response to treatment.
- Electroencephalogram
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Depressive symptoms causes:
- Child Behavior: Home Testing
- Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
- Mental Health: Home Testing:
- Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
Tests and diagnosis discussion for Depressive symptoms:
The first step to getting appropriate treatment for depression is a
physical examination by a physician. Certain medications as well as some
medical conditions such as a viral infection can cause the same symptoms
as depression, and the physician should rule out these possibilities
through examination, interview, and lab tests. If a physical cause for the
depression is ruled out, a psychological evaluation should be done, by the
physician or by referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
A good diagnostic evaluation will include a complete history of
symptoms, i.e., when they started, how long they have lasted, how severe
they are, whether the patient had them before and, if so, whether the
symptoms were treated and what treatment was given. The doctor should ask
about alcohol and drug use, and if the patient has thoughts about death or
suicide. Further, a history should include questions about whether other
family members have had a depressive illness and, if treated, what
treatments they may have received and which were effective.
Last, a diagnostic evaluation should include a mental status
examination to determine if speech or thought patterns or memory have been
affected, as sometimes happens in the case of a depressive or
manic-depressive illness.
(Source: excerpt from Depression: NIMH)
Symptoms of depression include sad mood, loss of interest or pleasure
in activities that were once enjoyed, change in appetite or weight,
difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, physical slowing or agitation, energy
loss, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty
thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. A
diagnosis of major depressive disorder is made if a person has 5 or
more of these symptoms and impairment in usual functioning nearly every
day during the same two-week period. (Source: excerpt from The Invisible Disease Depression: NIMH)
» Next page: Glossary
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
