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
  • ADHD -- Home Test Kits
  • Concentration -- Home Testing
• Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
  • Adult ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Tests
• Home Drug Tests
  • Home Marijuana Tests
  • Home Cocaine Tests
  • Home Alcohol Tests
  • Hair Drug Screening Tests
  • Methamphetamine Tests
  • Opiate Drug Tests
  • Benzodiazepine Drug Tests
  • Multiple Drug Screening Kits
• Smoking-Related Disorders: Home Testing:
  • Nicotine Home Tests
  • Home Lung Function Tests
  • Asthma-Related Home Testing
• Mental Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Emotional Stress Tests
  • ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Test Kits
• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
  • ADHD -- Home Tests
  • Drug Screening Kits

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)

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Depressive symptoms:

The following list of conditions have 'Depressive symptoms' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Depressive symptoms or choose View All.

Conditions listing medical complications: Depressive symptoms:

The following list of medical conditions have 'Depressive symptoms' or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.

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