How We Diagnose Depression: What to Expect

A Conversation, Not a Test: Unlike many medical conditions, there is no blood test or scan that can diagnose depression. Diagnosis is based on a careful and structured conversation about your experiences and how your feelings affect your daily life.
The Screening Questions: To begin building a picture, we often ask two key questions:
During the last month, have you been bothered by feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?
During the last month, have you been bothered by having little interest or pleasure in doing things?
The Medical Criteria: To make a formal diagnosis, we look for a specific pattern. Typically, this involves experiencing at least five symptoms (such as low mood, fatigue, or sleep problems) on most days for at least two weeks.
Ruling Out Other Causes: We may suggest a blood test during the process. This is not to diagnose depression itself, but to check for underlying physical causes, such as thyroid problems.