How do psychologists (or other mental health professionals) figure out if you have depression?

I'm doing a project and I need to answer this question... I'm pretty sure that they have a questionnaire/survey, but I can't seem to find if there's a specific name to it... Or if there are any other ways?





[yes, I have been searching and trying to find out on my own, for about a week.]

How do psychologists (or other mental health professionals) figure out if you have depression?
For psychologists at least, you are not very likely to find a questionare type of list, because the way depression presents in each individual is different (it varies by culture, gender, age, etc.). Usually a diagnosis takes quite a few sessions, a lot of questioning about behaviors and life in general, and a quick referral to the DSM IV TR. That's what you should look at. The DSM (4th revised edition) has a "check list", so to speak, that describes the requirements for a diagnosis of some form of depression, whether it's just dysthymia or a major depressive disorder. Do NOT look at Bipolar stuff, because that is a mood disorder and is in a different category all together.
Reply:Psychologists (and psychiatrists) can screen for mental illness, and diagnose. (Psychologists can now write prescriptions for drugs now in certain states, don't need to go to a psychiatrist for that anymore!) They use the DSM IV...Diagnostic and Statistical Manual to categorize the symptoms....they will diagnose using the psychological interview, perhaps some standardized tests...series of questions...and put that together to come up with a diagnosis. There are MANY tests available to diagnose mental illness, not just one. (Ph.D. psychologist)
Reply:Look into some books on Bipolar disorder. They have questionaire ideas in them.
Reply:The only way to determine if someone has depression is for the psychiatrist to do a screening. Basically, the psychiatrist asks the patient a number of questions, and based on the response that the patient gives, the psychiatrist can determine if he/she has depression. Keep in mind that a psychiatrist, not a psychologist, is qualified to diagnose someone with depression.
Reply:some say education and training but realistically %26amp; unfortuniatly it is often there own issues that bring them into this industry so it takes one to know one