Experts talk about diagnosing depression

What’s covered in this video: The criteria for diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder, related depressive symptoms, what the experts think about that criteria, the type of people more often diagnosed, and how they go about diagnosing depression.

What’s in this video: Discussion of whether depression is over-diagnosed, misdiagnosed, or over-medicated.

William Robiner, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., L.P., is a health psychologist and director of health psychology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Linda Muldoon, Ph.D., L.P., L.G.P., is a senior pychologist for the University Counseling & Consulting Services at the University of Minnesota.

David Adson, M.D., is a psychiatrist and associate professor for the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Jon Hallberg, M.D., is a family physician and medical director of Mill City Clinic, as well as creative director of the Center for Arts and Medicine, both in Minneapolis, MN.

Related material:
The “official” depression diagnosis
Have the Internet? Self diagnose.

The “official” depression diagnosis

What exactly constitutes depression? A valid question considering 40 percent of mental health complaints to health providers end in a depression diagnosis, according to the CDC.

Are most people being treating for depression technically depressed? And do the official diagnostic criteria encourage under- or over-diagnosis?

See what you think: View the official diagnostic criteria for depression from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version four.

The Patient Health Questionnaire, or PHQ-9, is a depression scale based off of the DSM criteria that is also commonly used to diagnose patients with depression. See a sample.

Related material: Have the Internet? Self-diagnose.

Have the Internet? Self-diagnose.

Though a true diagnosis of depression can be complex and serious, many institutions promote free self-screening tools to determine whether a person is–or may be–depressed and should seek professional evaluation and treatment.

The University of Minnesota’s counseling center recommends this online depression screening to students concerned about their mental health.

New York University created this depression screening test.

And Google “depression screening”–the first hit is a free test from Depression-Screening.org, who has clearly made its name in this “business.”

I took the test. “I” being a happy, healthy 20-something with no reason to suspect I might be depressed. But I am in my first semester of graduate school–a total lifestyle change. In the thick of midterms.

And, according to this test, my “screening results are consistent with moderately severe depression”: 

 

depression-screening.org

Related material: The “official” depression diagnosis