Depression is one of the most difficult disorders to diagnose because there are numerous aspects that need to be considered in order to confirm the possibility of the disorder. The symptoms associated with the condition can be as a result of numerous other disorders and conditions. Sometimes, it could simply be a passing temporary symptom not associated with any disease or disorder but simply brought on as a result of physical or mental weariness.
In some cases however, the presence of depression is rather obvious. For instance, a person with a family history of the condition who starts to spontaneously exhibit symptoms of worthlessness and hopelessness is most likely suffering from the condition. If a person is suspected to have the condition, a series of rigorous tests are carried out in order to confirm the presence of the mental disorder. The first step is a series of physiological test procedures such as blood work and other testing. Once this has been cleared, a person will be evaluated in detail to find out the possibility of the condition. One of the most common ways is using the DSM IV depression diagnosis. The DSM IV depression diagnosis which stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders – fourth edition is a book containing diagnostic methods for several mental disorders including various types of depression.
It focuses on several unique aspects in order to determine the possibility of having the condition. The DSM IV criteria for depression focuses on the presence of a certain set of symptoms in a person for a certain period of time. It is based on certain conditions such as the presence of 5 or more symptoms from a given list over a period of one or two weeks. For a major depressive episode for example, DSM IV depression criteria states that a person should have either a depressed mood or loss of interest along with four other symptoms such as insomnia for a period of two weeks or more. The DSM IV depression symptoms also focuses on aspects such as suicidal thoughts, difficulty concentrating and loss of energy or fatigue.
The DSM IV depression diagnosis is but one way to consider the possibility of the disorder. There are numerous other ways however in most cases, a similar style is used to diagnose it. interviewing and learning about the patient is the only way to gather enough information to find out the possibility of the disorder.