Diagnosis

Diagnosing Depressive Illness

These are some of the standard complaints in depressive illness:

lowered mood - feeling sad or unhappy most of the day, and nearly every day.
generalised negativity and pessimism.
loss of interest or pleasure in your normal activities.
tiredness, chronic fatigue (often not relieved by sleep).
social withdrawal.
less talkative than usual.
impaired concentration, memory or ability to think clearly.
reduced productivity or ability to cope.
tearfulness or crying.
impaired sleep, appetite or sex drive.
reduced self confidence, feelings of worthlessness.
anxiety and irritability.
thoughts of life being pointless, especially when losing hope of recovering.

Depressive Illness in Detail

You will know you have depressive illness if you have a number of the following symptoms:

If you are having trouble thinking clearly, so that you have problems keeping your mind on something you are reading or when watching TV or even following conversation with other people.
Your memory is worse than usual.
Finding everything too much of an effort so that you can’t be bothered doing things, or are too exhausted to do things.
Reduced ability to do the things you normally have to do at work or at home, and will make you want to avoid contact with people. Many people find they are too preoccupied with how bad they feel to make much in the way of normal conversation.
Feelings of sadness, despair or a sense of blackness descending on you.
Feeling tearful in situations which normally would not make you cry.
A loss of self confidence or self esteem.
Feeling uptight, nervous or worried, or even feeling angry with people around you.
Having trouble sleeping or eating, and losing interest in sex. (Some people actually eat more or sleep more when they are depressed.)
Feeling that there is no hope, that things won’t get better, and there’s no point in being alive.

Blood Test for Depression

In 50 to 60 per cent of cases, an unusual blood test (known as the Dexamethasone Suppression Test) can measure the presence and severity of depressive illness. A normal test of course does not rule out depressive illness (just having a normal x-ray when you have back pain does not mean you do not have a pain).

This blood test has to be ordered by your doctor.

Take 2 tablets of Dexamethasone 0.5mg (a low dose steroid medication) about 11pm one night, and have blood taken (in any local pathology service or by your GP) any time after 4pm the next day. You do not have to fast for this blood test.

An abnormal blood test simply shows ongoing high levels of cortisol despite taking the Dexmethasone. Abnormal tests return to normal with eradication of the depressive illness. In some cases people with the same symptoms show a normal result - this does not mean that there is nothing wrong or that your doctor will treat your feelings and symptoms as though they are less serious.

Symptoms of Depressive Illness Questionnaire

Answer the following questions based on how you have been feeling most of the time over the past 2 weeks. Answer as quickly as you can, so you do not become confused by conflicting thoughts. Write down ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to each question.

For most of the time over the past two weeks
1	Have you been feeling depressed, sad, unhappy or miserable?	YES	NO
2	Have you been feeling more pessimistic or negative than usual?	YES	NO
3	Have you lost interest or enjoyment in the things you normally do?	YES	NO
4	Have you been less motivated, less productive, or found it more difficult to cope than usual?	YES	NO
5	Have you been unusually tired every day?	YES	NO
6	Have you been sleeping worse than usual?	YES	NO
7	Have you been less interested in talking to people or mixing with people than usual?	YES	NO
8	Have you had trouble keeping your mind on things you were reading or watching on television?	YES	NO
9	Have you had more trouble with your memory than usual?	YES	NO
10	Have you been more easily tearful or crying more than usual?	YES	NO
11	Have you enjoyed your food less than usual?	YES	NO
12	Has your sexual interest been less than usual?	YES	NO
13	Have you been less self confident than usual?	YES	NO
14	.Have you been more anxious, nervous or worried than usual?	YES	NO
15	Have you been more easily annoyed or more impatient than usual?	YES	NO
16	Have you been wishing you were not alive?	YES	NO
17	Have you been thinking of ending your life?	YES	NO
18	Have you been thinking of ways of ending your life?	YES	NO
19	Have you made plans or preparations aimed at ending your life?	YES	NO
20	Have you been close to harming yourself?	YES	NO
21	Have you harmed yourself deliberately at any time?	YES	NO

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to 5 or more questions, you may have a change in your internal chemistry brought about by stress, which your doctor can assess and treat effectively. It will help your doctor if you bring this questionnaire with you.

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to any of questions 16 to 21, it is very important you see your doctor as soon as possible.

THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF FURTHER
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON www.depressiondoctor.com.

Important disclaimer: This site is medical information only and is not to be
taken as advice in treatment which can only be decided by your own doctor.