Is there a manic depressive disorder test? Mental health conditions can rarely be diagnosed by way of a standard test. Blood tests and the like will not be able to detect the presence of a mental illness as there are not usually any physical symptoms presented by a person suffering from an illness such as schizophrenia or BPD.
Making a true diagnosis is tricky as many of the symptoms presented are suggestive of bipolar disorder, but are not necessarily conclusive. There is a publication called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) that contains lists of symptoms to aid in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. However, manic depression is such a complex illness, ticking boxes on a list of symptoms is never enough and an accurate diagnosis of the illness requires a number of different approaches.
Is there a manic depressive disorder test?
There is no definitive test for the diagnosis of manic depression, but in all cases, a qualified mental health professional will be able to make a diagnosis based on an assessment of the symptoms presented by the patient. Initially, the person will be observed to see what symptoms are presenting, and once a diagnostic schedule has been worked through, the patient will be monitored closely over a set period of time.
In the case of many mental health disorders, there is often an overlap of symptoms between one disorder and another, which can lead to problems making a firm diagnosis. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusional behavior can be attributed to a wide range of illness, including schizophrenia, so it is vital that any diagnosis is made by taking into account the patient’s full medical history, information from other health professionals and family, plus observations made by the psychiatrist.
How is a diagnosis of manic depression made?
Family history is an important factor in the diagnosis of manic depression. There is very often a genetic link attached to the illness and if other relatives are known to have the condition, the patient is in a higher risk category for developing the condition.
Because bipolar disorder is a combination of depressive and manic episodes, it is important that the patient is monitored over a period of time. The patient will be diagnosed as suffering from an episode of depression if five or more symptoms of depression are present for two or more weeks. These include feelings of worthlessness, sadness, eating and/or sleeping problems, and suicidal thoughts. A manic episode will be diagnosed if symptoms such as euphoria last for a week or longer.
Should family and friends be involved in the diagnosis of manic depression?
Because there is no standard test for the diagnosis of manic depression, it can be extremely helpful for family and friends to provide details of the patient’s normal lifestyle, habits, religious beliefs and cultural differences. Since the symptoms of manic depression can all too easily be attributed to a different illness, it can help to have input from those who know the person well.
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