October 5 is National Depression Screening Day. More than 21 million American adults and 3.7 million American teenagers experience depression in some form, making it one of the most common mental illnesses in the country¹. But sometimes it can be hard for you as an individual to parse out whether that sadness you feel is depression or something else.
One common issue with mental illness is that individuals struggling with their mental health do not feel they can trust their emotions. They might dismiss symptoms of depression, especially if they have a skewed view of mental illness due to misrepresentations or misinformation. But like any other illness, depression requires a diagnosis so you can begin treatment. It’s always better to play it safe and check with a doctor if you might be experiencing symptoms.
Depression diagnoses are typically formed after a depression screening. But what is a depression screening and what should you expect if you’ve recently scheduled one? Let’s break that all down in today’s blog.
What Is a Depression Screening?
A depression screening, or a depression test, is a set of questions used to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. These questions are based on the DSM-5 and cover areas like:
- Any family history of mental illness
- A history of domestic abuse or trauma
- A history of substance abuse
- A history of suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Eating and sleeping habits, as well as physical activity
- Your feelings and mood recently (often within the past month)
A licensed psychologist will look over your results and offer their professional opinion from there. If they determine you meet the criteria, they will diagnose you with depression and recommend treatment methods, such as therapy or medication or a combination of both.
What Does a Depression Screening Entail?
It is always a good idea to get a depression screening if you begin to question whether you might have depression. Even if the results of the screening show that you likely do not have depression, you can at least mark it off the list of concerns. Depression screenings can be done in person or over telehealth. But what does a depression screening entail exactly?
A Discussion About Your Mood and Mental Health
Any time you go to the doctor’s office about a new issue, they’re likely to ask, “So what brings you here today?” They likely have some notes on a chart, but they want to hear it from you so that they can best determine how to help you. The provider will ask about your mood over the past month, ups and downs as well as what has been consistent.
Questions About Habits and Medication
The provider will then ask you about any habits that might be contributing to your mood. How have you been sleeping? Have you been binge eating or skipping meals? Has your weight changed or fluctuated recently?
They will then ask if you’re taking any medications currently, whether for physical or mental health reasons. There may be side effects that could be impacting your mood, or a combination of medications could cause a poor reaction. Your provider will also ask about your drug and alcohol use, as well as nicotine use. There is no personal judgment here, but it is important to be honest as these things factor into your overall mental health.
Questions About Health History
You will be asked about your own health history, both mental and physical. Do you have any existing conditions? Have you ever had a major medical procedure done? What about your mental health? They may also ask about your family’s history of mental illness.
One thing that will come up is whether you have attempted suicide in the past or struggled with thoughts of suicide. Even if this is not something you currently struggle with, it’s important to mention if it happened in the past. This may impact your screening result.
A Physical (Sometimes)
Not all depression screenings will call for a physical. However, some doctors do like to have an idea of your current physical health as it may relate to your mental health. You will have a physical done by your general physician. They can then turn over the results of the physical to your mental health provider.
How Long Does a Depression Screening Take?
There are two types of depression screenings. One takes place during an intake appointment. This is a combination of screening you for depression as well as getting all of your other patient information. This can take anywhere from 1-3 hours, sometimes stretching into two sessions. After the assessment, the provider reviews this information and gets back to you with the results.
If you are already working with a provider, there is also the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a shortened version that often happens in the midst of therapy. The questions go over general symptoms of depression, as well as anxiety. This questionnaire takes about 5 minutes, and that much time or less for your provider to review. If done in therapy, your therapist should be able to give you the results of your test within the time of your session.
What To Do Next
After your depression screening, you will receive a professional conclusion as to whether or not you likely have depression. From there, your provider will also offer suggestions of treatment. The most common treatments are antidepressant medications combined with some type of therapy. They may offer you a referral to a therapist who offers the kind of therapy you need. You can begin to schedule your first appointment from there.
Rivia Mind is here to help if you are in need of a depression screening or have recently been diagnosed with depression. Our skilled and compassionate mental health providers can offer assessments in addition to therapy or psychiatric treatment. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
