Depression: Early Diagnosis is the Key

Contrary to popular belief, depression doesn’t really discriminate against cultures. People all over the globe are suffering from depression, regardless of their race, ethnicity or culture. However, in some cultures, people are more open to the thought of getting treated for personality disorders than others. In others, people think that depression is a sign of weakness and those who are known to suffer from it will be humiliated or will ‘lose face’ in society. Consequently, in such cultures, people who have the symptoms avoid going to the doctor at all costs; thereby not getting any medication that would have helped.

Another misconception is that young people don’t get depressed. This is hardly the case. Anybody can get depressed, no matter how young or old. Even infants can get depressed. Of course, some age groups are more likely to be afflicted with the disorder than others. But this doesn’t change the fact that everybody is at risk of depression.

The problem, though, is that when young people get depressed, people usually react negatively. Depression manifests differently in adolescents. They don’t get melancholic like most adults who suffer from depression. Instead, they ‘act out’, become rebellious, become overly reckless, and exhibit little concern for their safety. They may act irritable and uncooperative most of the time.

A lot of people think those who act like this are mere ‘troublemakers’. They are stereotyped as ‘bad eggs’ and are thus deserving of punishment and isolation, instead of encouragement and treatment.

Another age-related problem with depression is that of elderly depression. Old age is the period in a person’s life when diseases run rampant and mental degeneration occurs. Thus, people are less likely to recognize signs and symptoms of depression for what they are. People often just take these as a normal part of aging, when they’re really not.

The problem with depression is that it may continue to get worse and become more severe if left untreated. If it gets particularly severe, the person may even commit suicide. Those who are depressed and those who love them suffer needlessly because they do not know when to seek help. Their problems could’ve been easily solved through medications and some psychiatric help, especially if the condition was diagnosed early. And to make matters worse, hurdles like culture and age only make it harder to spot depression. There is a social stigma that comes with ‘seeing a shrink’ that makes people reluctant to get treatment. But if left untreated, depression has too many repercussions, not just for the patient, but for his family as well. This is why people must be on the lookout for any symptoms that might indicate depression.

How is Depression Diagnosed?

Depression is diagnosed mainly through an analysis of a person’s symptoms. Doctors can easily give a diagnosis but of course, it is the prerogative of the client to seek help in the first place. If the client or his family fails to spot the symptoms, they may not seek any help at all.

The symptoms of depression include:

Sadness, increased anxiety, feeling of ‘emptiness’
Loss of interest in activities previously found pleasurable
Feelings of helplessness and worthlessness/poor self-esteem
Feelings of guilt
Frequent crying, feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
Activity intolerance and fatigue
Poor memory and concentration
Difficulty in making decisions
Restlessness and irritability
Sleep disturbances
Weight gain or weight loss
Somatic symptoms that are not eased by treatment
Persistent thoughts about suicide and death, actual suicide attempts

If the first two symptoms are present along with five others, then it is highly likely that the person suffers from depression and should get seen by a doctor.

The diagnosis of mental disorders like depression depends not on any laboratory tests or any high-tech machinery. In fact, all the doctor has to do is talk to the client and talk to the patient’s family. Thus, it’s vital for the family members to be observant because they’ll be the physician’s primary source of information. Depressed patients don’t usually get admitted into a mental hospital unless they have a high risk for suicide.

However, that’s not to say that physicians don’t conduct lab tests for people who may be depressed. They still conduct physical examinations and laboratory tests to rule out any possibility that the symptoms may be caused by some other disease. There are many differentials for a diagnosis of depression, after all, like brain damage for example. Attributing the symptoms immediately to depression could prove fatal. If a wrong diagnosis was given, then the actual disease could keep on worsening and may ultimately lead to the patient’s death.

Commonly, a physician would order tests for hormone function to see if there is any disorder of the hypothalamus. He could also order an MRI or a CT scan to see if the brain is functioning properly or if there is any brain damage that may be causing the symptoms.

Either way, it’s very important that you report any symptoms to your doctor as soon as possible. Never wait for things to get worse as this disease affects not only the one afflicted but also those who live with them, particularly those who love them.

Who can Give a Diagnosis of Depression?

Psychiatrists – psychiatrists are doctors who specialize in mental disorders. They are well-versed in matters of psychology and are the ones who can best deal with depressed patients. They can prescribe antidepressant medication like prozac and they can provide psychotherapy; psychotherapy actually means ‘talk therapy’.

Pychologists – these mental health professionals can help people by being some sort of ‘life coach’. They help people make positive changes in their lives by encouraging positive behavior and thinking. They can give psychotherapy to clients but they are not allowed to prescribe any medications.

Family Physicians – a family physician, on the other hand, can prescribe antidepressant drugs but cannot provide psychotherapy. What they can do is to refer patients to other health care professionals who specialize in personality and mental disorders.