Depression is a treatable disorder with good success rate.  Getting a Depression Test is highly recommended because depression is very common in the US today. It affects the young as well as old without discrimination, and most do not know why they are being affected.

The most common type of depression is dysthymia, which is the mildest of all depressions.  It is a chronic condition of “I don’t care” or “Just hanging in there,” with even the sufferers themselves understanding that they are not functioning at their fullest.

This is typically why hundreds of people go online to take one of the many depression tests offered to those who would like to understand why they are feeling as they do.

Not typically classified as dejection exams, these tools are set up to point people in the right direction.  Some find they can cope better just knowing the areas they are having the most difficulties in, while others fear they may have some sort of mental disorder with the results they have received.

Consisting of 15 to 20 questions worded in such a way as to extract specific information, a doctor will understand how to proceed with the information.  He will couple it with a physical examination and possibly blood work to check electrolytes, liver and/or kidney functions, and so forth, as there are several conditions that can mimic depression (several cancers, tumors and stroke or multiple sclerosis, to name a few).  In this way, he will eliminate any medical reasons for your melancholy.

Two of the typical questions during a Depression Test (whether online or in a doctor’s office) are:

1)     During the past 30 days, have you noticed feelings of being down, depressed or hopeless, and

2)     During the past 30 days, have you noticed feelings of little interest or pleasure in doing things?

You might feel uncomfortable responding to this type of questioning, but when you realize that half of the people in the US suffer from some type of mental disorder, it will seem worth it. In addition, studies prove that these two questions can be a key part of assessing most cases of depression.

One of the most startling discoveries from those who have come through dysthymia is that they say the worst thing about their battle did not want to hug their children, or even smile at them.

Other symptoms of depression can include chronic fatigue or disturbed sleeping patterns.  Many people experience eating habit changes and complain of headaches.  This is reason enough to seek a Depression Test. Remember, the quicker you are diagnosed and treated the easier it is going to be for you to recover mentally and emotionally.

Depression is one of the challenges Cancer patients, especially undergoing a cancer therapy involving chemotherapy, are facing because the chemicals and their side effects have a huge impact on the emotions.