How Accurate Is It
This quiz is NOT a diagnostic tool. Mental health disorders can only be diagnosed by licensed healthcare professionals. If youd like to learn more about social anxiety disorder read Psycoms guide to Social Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments.
Psycom believes assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment. All too often people stop short of seeking help out of fear their concerns arent legitimate or severe enough to warrant professional intervention.
Your healthcare provider will consider your overall health, and other factors when advising treatment for you.
Treatment may include:
- Relaxation techniques
- Working with a therapist to boost coping skills
- Making lifestyle changes to reduce stress and avoid stimulating substances. Also, seek help with quitting smoking, drug or alcohol use.
Risk Factors For Depression
Depression can affect anyoneeven a person who appears to live in relatively ideal circumstances.
Several factors can play a role in depression:
- Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression.
- Genetics: Depression can run in families. For example, if one identical twin has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life.
- Personality: People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more likely to experience depression.
- Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression.
How Depression Is Diagnosed
If you plan to see your doctor about depression, here are a few tests your doctor could prescribe.
Physical examination
Your doctor may do a physical exam and ask you health-related questions. Depression may be connected to an underlying physical health condition in some situations. Your doctor may attend mainly on the brain and endocrine systems during the physical exam.
The doctor will investigate any serious health issues that may be contributing to the depression symptoms.
Lab tests
Your doctor may request lab testing to rule out other diagnoses. Your doctor will most likely order blood tests to rule out any medical problems that might be causing your symptoms.
Blood tests will be used to screen for anemia, thyroid, or perhaps other hormones, and occasionally calcium and vitamin D levels. For instance, your doctor may perform a blood count or examine your thyroid to ensure it is working correctly.
Psychiatric examination
Your mental health professional will inquire about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior. To help you answer these questions, you might be asked to fill out a questionnaire.
It is critical to remember that the assessments and questionnaires used by the doctor are only one element of the diagnostic process of determining depression. On the other hand, these tests can occasionally provide your doctor with more information about your mood. They can use them to establish a more definite diagnosis.
DSM-5
Self-testing
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The Text For Diagnoses
The main tool involved in diagnosing mental health disorders is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , a manual that codifies the symptoms and signs of various mental health disorders and supports professionals in determining whether those signs are present to a degree that means a mental health disorder can be diagnosed.
The DSM-5 information regarding the mental health disorder of addiction includes 11 different behavioral symptoms, such as:
- Inability to control amount or frequency of substance use
- Inability to stop using the substance
- Struggles to manage personal relationships, responsibilities, or personal interests
- Health issues that result from substance use
- Withdrawal symptoms if the substance is stopped
Of the 11 symptoms, if 2-3 are present in an individual, a mild substance use disorder is diagnosed. In contrast, if a person has 4-5 symptoms, the diagnosis is a moderate disorder, and if a person is experiencing six or more of the symptoms, the professional will diagnose a severe disorder.
Each mental health disorder has its own set of diagnostic symptoms and indicates what they mean regarding the individuals mental health condition, enabling an accurate diagnosis that can lead the person to get help for the condition.
When Should I Seek Treatment
When the symptoms of anxiety and the associated behaviors are having a detrimental impact on your life and day-to-day functioning, its important to get help.
Suma Chand, PhD, the director of the cognitive behavioral therapy program in the department of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, says a person who has panic disorder is very avoidant of many situations that could trigger panic symptoms and the panic disorder is impacting their ability to go to work regularly, go shopping, attend church, and the like. The ability to function while in these situations is negatively impacted as well. If youre avoiding situations that trigger your anxiety or you experience tremendous discomfort and cant function effectively when youre in those situations, its necessary to seek treatment.
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What Is The Outlook For Someone With Major Depressive Disorder
While someone with MDD can feel hopeless at times, its important to remember that the disorder can be treated successfully. There is hope.
To improve your outlook, its critical to stick with your treatment plan. Dont miss therapy sessions or follow-up appointments with your healthcare professional.
Never stop taking your medications unless your therapist or healthcare professional advises you to.
On days when you feel particularly depressed despite treatment, it can be helpful to call a local crisis or mental health service or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Resources are available.
A friendly, supportive voice could be just what you need to get you through a difficult time.
What Are The Complications Of Depression
When depression becomes very severe, dark thoughts can emerge and these can even lead to suicide. If you are having thoughts of suicide, talking to someone you trust can help.
If someone you care about has severe depression, learn the warning signs, since they may be feeling so bad that they cant see their way out alone.
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How Common Is Depression
Depression affects people of all age groups, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, although it affects certain groups more than others. More than 19 million adults in the United Statesnearly 8% of the populationexperienced at least one severe depressive episode in 2020.¹
Women, more than their male counterparts, are more likely to suffer from depression. According to some research, one in three women will have a major depressive episode sometime during their lives.²
Other risk factors include:
What To Do If You Get Diagnosed With Depression
If youre diagnosed with any type of depression, know that you are not alone. Help and effective treatment is available, and there are simple, effective lifestyle changes you can make to begin feeling better, often right away. Lets look at some self-care and other techniques that can help keep you grounded and more positive in your daily life if you have depression diagnosed.
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What Is Major Depressive Disorder
Sadness is a natural part of the human experience. People may feel sad or depressed when a loved one passes away or when theyre going through a life challenge, such as a divorce or serious illness.
These feelings are usually short-lived. When someone experiences persistent and intense feelings of sadness for extended periods, then they may have a mood disorder such as major depressive disorder .
MDD, also referred to as clinical depression, is a significant medical condition that can affect many areas of your life. It impacts mood and behavior as well as various physical functions, such as appetite and sleep.
MDD is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States. Data suggests that more than 7.8 percent of U.S. adults experienced a major depressive episode in 2019.
Some people with MDD never seek treatment. However, most people with the disorder can learn to cope and function with treatment. Medications, psychotherapy, and other methods can effectively treat people with MDD and help them manage their symptoms.
What Is Your Hcp Noting During Check
Achieving remission can be a long, hard road for people who suffer from clinical depression. The APA guide reports that most treatments take approximately four to eight weeks before a healthcare provider can determine whether the treatment is effective.
Your doctors goal is to see a reduction in the severity of your depression symptoms. Specifically, your healthcare provider may use the following terms to discuss depression treatment goals:
- SymptomImprovement: Any change in your HAM-D17 score
- Response: A greater than or equal to 50% decrease in HAM-D17 score .
- Remission: A HAM-D17 score has decreased to 7 or below . This is the ultimate goal for your healthcare provider and you.
Sometimes, though, the decided-upon treatments do not provide the relief that you need. The STAR*D trial, which evaluated depression treatment, found that a trial-and-error approach to treating depression can be slow. Fewer than 40% of the participants achieved depression remission after several weeks of the first medication protocol.
The APA treatment guide suggests that treatment-resistant depression may require different and/or more intense options. Some of the treatment options could include Electroconvulsive therapy , transcranial magnetic stimulation, or vagus nerve stimulation.
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Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is a debilitating anxiety disorder that is very different from GAD. Panic disorder is not about panicking. Its not about getting very worried because you might lose your job or a lion is about to attack you in the jungle. That type of panic is normal.
Panic disorder is when you experience severe feelings of doom that cause both mental and physical symptoms that can be so intense that some people call an ambulance, worried that something is dangerously wrong with their health.
Panic disorder is characterized by two things:
- Fear of getting panic attacks.
Panic attacks are intense physical and mental sensations that can be triggered by stress, anxiety, or by nothing at all. They often involve mental distress, but are most well-known for their physical symptoms, including:
- Rapid heartbeat .
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
- Seeing or hearing things that arent there.
If you have noticed any of these changes over the last few weeks or months, you should consider making an appointment with your family doctor.
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Why Do People Develop Depression
Unfortunately, there is not one single answer to this question. Researchers have found that several different factors can cause depression. Its not always clear which possible cause of depression affects any given patient. In some people, several different problems may lead to this mood disorder.
While understanding the possible causes of depression can help, its best for individuals to speak with mental health professionals to help discover the cause of their mood disorders. A personalized approach is vital for depression.
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What Is The Process Of Getting Diagnosed With Depression
What Does the Doctor Look for to Make a Depression Diagnosis? A doctor can rule out other conditions that may cause depression with a physical examination, a personal interview, and lab tests. The doctor will also do a complete diagnostic evaluation, discussing any family history of depression or other mental illness.
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Patients With Chronic Medical Conditions
The incidence of depression is higher in patients with chronic medical conditions. A Canadian study demonstrated a 1.45 times greater risk of depression in these patients.44 A study of the relationship between depression and diabetes and coronary artery disease specifically showed it to be bidirectional.45 Given these findings, physicians should consider screening patients with chronic medical conditions for depression. Physicians should also be mindful that many symptoms commonly attributed to chronic medical conditions are also symptoms of underlying depression.
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Panic Disorders Are Characterized By:
Repeated and unexpected panic attacks with both physical manifestations and mental ones .
Anxiety disorders are among the so-called complex genetic diseases characterized by a complex pathogenetic interaction of environmental factors with multiple genetic variants at different chromosomal loci. Family studies have shown that first-degree relatives of patients with panic disorders have a three- to fivefold elevation of the risk of developing such a disorder themselves, compared to the general population. Familial clustering is also seen in generalized anxiety disorder and in the specific phobias. The heritability of anxiety disorders, i.e., the degree of participation of genetic factors in their development, lies in the range of 3067%, with the remainder of the variation accounted for by individual negative environmental factors, such as life events . These include, for example :
-
Abuse and neglect
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Talking To Your Gp About Depression
When youre depressed it can be difficult to imagine that treatment can actually help. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner your depression will improve.
Conditions such as an underactive thyroid can cause symptoms of depression. Your GP will do a urine and blood test to rule this out. There are no physical tests for depression. Your GP will tell if you have depression by asking you lots of questions. You will be asked about your health and how it is affecting you mentally and physically.
Try to be as open and honest as you can be with your answers. Describe your symptoms and how theyre affecting you.
Any discussion you have with your GP will be confidential. If you have thoughts or urges to harm yourself or others your GP would speak to your family and friends.
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How Do I Ask My Doctor For Anxiety Medication
Is excessive fear, worry, or anxiety affecting your daily life? You are likely suffering from an anxiety disorder.
Help is out there. Many people are relieved to learn that you dont need to see an expensive psychiatrist to receive mental health help.
Primary care doctors are able to treat many common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Initiating a conversation about starting anxiety medication can be nerve-wracking, but theres no need to be intimidated. Remember the doctor is there to help you.
In this article well go over how to ask your doctor for anti-anxiety medication so you can feel prepared to get the help you need.
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How To Talk To Doctor About Depression And Anxiety
Use clear statements such as I think I may be depressed or I am having trouble with anxiety. This will help guide them and let them know what direction to go in. Be as open and honest with your doctor as possible. He or she cant help you if they dont know everything that is going on.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Mental Health Disorders
Mental Health America shares some general signs and symptoms that can help people recognize if someone is experiencing a mental health disorder. Mental symptoms include:
- Confusion, memory loss, or other cognitive dysfunction
- Changes in mood, such as depression or mania
- Extreme mood swings
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Extreme risk-taking behaviors
When these signs and behaviors are occurring and particularly if more than one is occurring at once it is a good idea to see a professional for a mental health diagnosis.
Changes To Depression In The Dsm
While the DSM-5 doesn’t introduce any new diagnostic tests for depression, it does promote a new integrated approach for clinicians to diagnose mental health disorders.
Clinicians who were used to using the older methods for diagnosing depression didn’t have to completely change how they approached the process with the DSM-5, as the new integrated approach is compatible with previous assessment tools.
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Major Depressive Disorder With Seasonal Pattern
Previously known as seasonal affective disorder , this type of depression occurs during the winter and fall months, when there is less daylight. Less commonly, it may follow other seasonal patterns.
It lifts during the rest of the year and in response to light therapy.
This condition seems to particularly affect people who live in countries with long or severe winters.
The medical community does not fully understand the causes of depression. There are many possible causes, and sometimes, various factors combine to trigger symptoms.
Factors that are likely to play a role
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Look For Signs That Treatment Is Working
There are lots of little ways to tell when treatment works it will be clear in the ways that your loved one looks and acts, says Angelos Halaris, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of outpatient clinical services at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
As they improve, someone with depression may start making better eye contact with you instead of looking down to avoid eye contact due to feeling vulnerable or anxious. Other signs of improvement, according to Dr. Halaris, include:
- Smiling occasionally and having more relaxed instead of tense facial features
- Having a calmer demeanor
- Isolating less and interacting with people more
- Eating and sleeping better
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