Depression is a common medical condition affecting millions of people. Up to 10 percent of men and 20 percent of women suffer from depression at some point in their lives. You might be wondering if you or someone you know has depression and would benefit from treatment. If so, a doctor can test for depression, which is the first step toward getting necessary therapy.
Testing for Depression
Doctors diagnose depression by talking with patients. No blood tests or X-rays can confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor will ask questions about your feelings, but he might also ask about how well you're sleeping, how your appetite is and how active you are. Your doctor might also ask questions to make sure no other conditions might be causing the same symptoms. He or she will use guidelines laid out by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, to help make the diagnosis of depression.
DSM
The DSM is a book published by the American Psychiatric Association about once every 10 years. It lists the specific symptoms of each mental illness. Psychiatrists and other doctors use these definitions to test for depression.
Criteria for Major Depression
The DSM criteria for major depression are that a person must have either a depressed mood or a loss of interest in or pleasure from most activities.
This depressed mood or loss of interest must be present for most of the day, almost every day, for at least two weeks. In addition to one of those symptoms, the DSM states that an additional four of the following symptoms must also be present for the same amount of time:
Large, unintentional weight loss or weight gain, or significant changes in appetite
Sleeping too much or too little
Acting more hyper, with excessive energy, or barely moving at all
Fatigue, lack of energy
Feeling worthless or guilty
Unable to think or concentrate, unable to make decisions
Recurrent thoughts about death
The Geriatric Depression Scale
One common depression test is the Geriatric Depression Scale. Despite the name, this quiz is useful for both younger and older adults:
1. Are you basically satisfied with your life?
2. Do you often get bored?
3. Do you often feel helpless?
4. Do you prefer to stay at home rather than going out and doing new things?
5. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?
A "no" answer to the first question and a "yes" answer to the next four count as a point each. People who score two or more points might have major depression and should talk with a doctor.
The PHQ-2
The Patient Health Questionnaire-2, or PHQ-2, is an even shorter test for depression:
Over the past two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Little interest or pleasure in doing things. (Score 0-3)
Feeling down, depressed or hopeless. (Score 0-3)
0 = Not at all
1 = Several days
2 = More than half the days
3 = Nearly every day
People who score four points on this quiz have about a 50 percent chance of depression. People who score six points on this quiz have about a 90 percent chance of depression.
Follow Up
These tests for depression can help you decide whether you or someone you know has depression. However, it's important to follow up with a doctor to be sure and to get help starting treatment.
