How Is Depression Assessed?

Family members, friends, coworkers, and teachers and other school personnel are often the first to recognize that someone might be depressed, and often play an important role in the help-seeking/referral process. A diagnostic evaluation for depression should include questions about depressive symptoms, other problems including alcohol and drug use, thoughts about death or suicide, family history of depression, prior evaluation and treatment for depression, and effectiveness of any treatment received. Screening questionnaires or rating scales as well as interviews should be used. In the case of children and adolescents, information should be gathered from the youth him/herself as well as parents or other caregivers. Information from other people familiar with the child or adolescent (for example, teachers or guidance counselors, older siblings) may be helpful. Psychological testing, laboratory tests (to rule out physical causes for the symptoms), consultation between mental health specialists, or review of records of previous evaluations and treatment may also be involved.

How Is Depression Diagnosed?

The number, type, and duration of symptoms required for a diagnosis of depression vary depending on the specific type of depressive disorder. For example, a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder requires at least five symptoms lasting at least two weeks, while a diagnosis of Dysthymic Disorder requires at least three symptoms lasting at least two years (or one year in children and adolescents). To receive a diagnosis of depression, the person must be experiencing significant distress or impairment in daily functioning, and must not meet criteria for other mental disorders which might better account for the observed symptoms (for example, schizophrenia).