What is the process of diagnosing depression?

Depression is a condition that is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in pleasurable activities. Diagnosis of depression is a multifaceted one:

Your mental healthcare professional may look for:

• Physical conditions: Tests for physical illnesses that may contribute to your condition and a complete blood test to check for chemical or hormonal imbalance.

• Psychological evaluation: Discuss the different symptoms, their persistence and how long they have been present, and perform psychological tests and inventory.
  
  
• DSM: Evaluate your case history and condition against the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria for depression.

Diagnosis for any mental illness is a careful and systematic process which is done by trained professionals to ensure correct and proper diagnosis.

For more detailed information with current trends in diagnosis, check this article.

By Nancy, an intern at The Alternative Story