The diagnosis of depression is one made by a medical or mental health doctor. When determining if a person is suffering from depression, there are lists of key symptoms that are taken into account. Doctors take note of the person possibly suffering from depression if at least five symptoms persist for a period of one week for severe cases and two weeks in milder cases. These symptoms usually will interfere with the normal lives of the person. Evaluation usually consists of a physical examination as well as gathering information from the person’s family history as depression is hereditary.
Depression Diagnosis Based on Symptoms
There are many symptoms of depression, some lasting longer than other that may or may not require medication in order to suppress them. Some people suffering from depression have found that symptoms subside with just using “talk” treatment which allows the person to discuss problems and possibly ways of solving them, thus eliminating the “panic” or depressed state.
Symptoms include constant sadness or having the feeling of anxiousness. Often people find themselves in a state of feeling “empty”. People suffering from this illness also may experience the inability to enjoy activities including sex. They suffer from restlessness and or irritability which often leaves the person crying for long periods of time.
Persons also may have a guilt feeling or a feeling of worthlessness because of their inability to complete projects. This usually results in the person sleeping too much or not sleeping at all. The lack of sleep parallels the loss of appetite or even some people experiencing weight gain by overeating. Some experience a lack of energy and the feeling of tiredness. In more severe cases, some experience thoughts of suicide and death. Because of this illness, people also experience difficulty in concentrating and remembering, thus resulting in the inability to make correct decisions. All if the symptoms listed above results in headaches as well as digestive disorders which lead to other medical problems later in life.
It has only been in the past 20 years that depression among children has actually been taken seriously. This is because there are so many underlying factors that play on a child that will result in the symptoms mentioned above. Children experience a mixed variety of emotions each day while attending school. They also are faced with peer pressure, or life episodes such as gaining or losing a boyfriend/girlfriend. Because of this, it is often difficult to diagnose depression in children. The first stop in childhood depression is the pediatrician which after a complete physical examination, determine if future treatment is needed by a psychiatrist.
For a diagnosis of depression in a child, there are different factors that are used. As adults who experience depression may experience weight loss due to their depression, a child may display emotions such as irritability.
Just as children suffer from depression criteria is looked at differently than in adults, the same goes for depression in women, men and the elderly. Women may suffer from depression due to a loss of a child while men may suffer from depression due to the loss of a job. The elderly may suffer from depression because of the inability to move around as easy as they did earlier in life. The fact of the matter remains though that if any signs or symptoms exist in anyone, immediate medical attention should be sought out in order to avoid possible death or major depression.