Depression Tests

There are no laboratory tests that can diagnose a person with depression. There are tests that can be used to rule it out, though. Because other medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and viral infections can produce symptoms similar to those of depression, your doctor may want to first consider whether you might be suffering from any of those illnesses.

The best way for a mental health professional to diagnose depression is with a thorough interview with the patient. In addition, your doctor may ask you to fill out the following depression rating questionnaires to help better gauge your symptoms.

Beck Depression Inventory

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is made up of 21 (self-reported depression) questions designed to help mental health professionals assess the mood, symptoms, and behaviors of people who are depressed. Each answer is given a score of zero through three that indicates severity of symptoms.

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is a questionnaire designed to help health care professionals determine the severity of depression in patients who have already been diagnosed with depression. It also consists of 21 questions; each relates to a particular sign or symptom of depression. Multiple-choice answers are given a score of zero through four. Higher total scores indicate more severe depression.

Zung Self-Rating Scale for Depression

This is a screening tool that patients who have been diagnosed with major depression can use to assess the level of their depression. It is a 20-question tool that provides a score range from 20 to 80. Most people with depression score between 50 and 69. A score above that indicates severe depression.