What Tests Are There for Depression? Understanding Screening Options

Depression is a very treatable but significantly undertreated mental disorder, as many people who are experiencing major depressive disorder simply believe that they're feeling sad, and believe that they should just be able to get over it. Depression screening tests exist to help medical providers and mental health professionals identify major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder in their patients. Let's take a closer look at some common depression screening tools and how they work to help providers diagnose major depression.

Understanding Depression Screening

Depression screening is a standard set of questions to help healthcare providers diagnose major depression. A patient health questionnaire (PHQ) is often a first step in identifying some potential risk factors for developing major depressive disorder.

Depression is a common, serious mental health condition that affects how you think, feel, and behave. Because of stigma and a lack of education, many live with major depression for years without seeking the help that could make a huge difference in their lives.

Depression screening is often done as part of a routine health checkup, and medical experts recommend it for everyone starting at age 12.

Importance of Depression Screening

Depression screening is important because it can help identify individuals who are at risk of developing depression. Early detection and treatment of depression can make it easier to treat, and greatly improve symptoms and quality of life.

The US Preventive Services Task Force and American Psychiatric Association recommend screening for depression in adults, particularly those with a history of depression or those who are experiencing symptoms of depression.

Preparation for Depression Screening

You usually don’t need any special preparations for a depression test or a blood test. Be open and honest when talking about yourself and your depression symptoms during the initial and all following appointments. Bring an in-depth family history from relatives to your doctor’s office if possible.

Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder

The diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) laid out in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM 5) are based on symptoms and how they affect your life.

For major depressive disorder, you would experience a depressed mood or loss of interest and pleasure in life for at least 2 weeks, plus four other symptoms. Other diagnostic criteria for MDD include symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, or feelings of worthlessness. Severe depression may greatly impact the quality of your mental health, relationships, and day-to-day life.

Common Depression Screening Tools

Here is a list of some of the most common screening tools used in doctor's offices or clinics for clinical diagnosis of major depression.

The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) is a widely used screening tool for depression, with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.93.

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a self-rating scale that measures the severity of depression. The Beck Depression Inventory is one of the most widely used depression screening tests to measure depression severity, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is an interview scale that measures the severity of depression. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is a multiple-choice questionnaire that helps act as a guide to evaluate recovery.

The Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was designed for use with the general population and is now often used in primary care settings to detect major depression.

Specialized Screening Tools

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a widely used screening tool for depression in older adults, with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.93. The Geriatric Depression Scale can be helpful for screening older individuals who may be experiencing loneliness or life change, such as losing pieces of their independence. The Geriatric Depression Scale is often given to individuals who are entering a long-term care facility.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a widely used screening tool for depression in pregnancy and postpartum, with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.93. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is commonly given to people who are pregnant or who have just given birth to screen for perinatal depression and postpartum depression, two potential dangerous forms of this mental health condition.

The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a widely used screening tool for bipolar disorder, with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.93. Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder in which an individual cycles between periods of depressed mood and manic or hypomanic episodes.

Mental Disorders that Cause Depression Symptoms

Other mental health disorders, such as anxiety or sleep disorders, can cause depression symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is important for effective treatment. A mental health professional can help both diagnose depression and treat depression.

Managing Major Depression

It is essential to diagnose mental illnesses like depression, as these are commonly very treatable. According to research shared by the American Psychiatric Association, a combination of anti-depressant medications and psychotherapy is effective for most people with depression.

A mental health professional can help develop a treatment plan for major depression and offer great improvement in mental health, even for those with severe depression. Treatment options include medications, psychotherapy, and hospitalization.

In some cases, a person may be experiencing persistent depressive disorder, but with diagnosis there are certain electroconvulsive therapies that have been proven to treat symptoms.

Getting Help for Major Depression in Chicago, IL

Major depression can be a severe mental health disorder that causes a number of negative impacts on health, happiness, and well-being. Diagnosing severe depression early can be a key factor in effective treatment, so tools like the diagnostic and statistical manual, and screening tests like the patient health questionnaire, Beck depression inventory, and the geriatric depression scale are incredibly important. The next step is seeking help to treat depression.

At Williamsburg Therapy Group, our team of doctoral-level psychotherapists offers a number of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to talk therapy that offer the tools necessary for learning self-compassion, managing stress, and learning healthy coping skills and habits that can treat major depression and any co-morbid mood disorders.

If you, a family member, or someone you love is showing signs of a depressed mood that is impacting their mental or physical health, call our service coordinator to be matched with a Chicago depression therapist that can help you get an accurate diagnosis and begin depression treatment to improve mental health while offering healthy coping skills and strategies to reduce symptoms and help you live a more fulfilling life.