How is depression diagnosed and treated?
Depression, even the most severe cases, can be effectively
treated. The earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective
it is.
The first step to getting appropriate treatment is to visit a
doctor or mental health specialist. Certain medications, and
some medical conditions such as viruses or a thyroid disorder,
can cause the same symptoms as depression. A doctor
can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam,
interview, and lab tests. If the doctor can find no medical
condition that may be causing the depression, the next step
is a psychological evaluation.
The doctor may refer you to a mental health professional,
who should discuss with you any family history of depression
or other mental disorder, and get a complete history of
your symptoms. You should discuss when your symptoms
started, how long they have lasted, how severe they are, and
whether they have occurred before and if so, how they were
treated. The mental health professional may also ask if you
are using alcohol or drugs, and if you are thinking about
death or suicide.
Once diagnosed, a person with depression can be treated in
several ways. The most common treatments are medication
and psychotherapy.
I called my doctor
and talked about
how I was feeling.
She had me come in
for a checkup and
gave me the name
of a specialist, who is
an expert in treating
depression.11
Medication
Antidepressants primarily work on brain chemicals