When you have symptoms ofmental illness, however, diagnosis and treatment can be a far more complex process.
They will also ask about your family’s health history, including mental health.
The test can be used to check for anemia or infection, both of which can lead tofatigue.
Panyawat Boontanom / EyeEm / Getty Images
Thyroid Function Panel
Thyroid tests check the blood for levels of hormones produced by the thyroid gland.
If the thyroid gland is under- or overactive,mood symptoms can result.
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends that all people diagnosed with depression should be screened for hypothyroidism.
When the kidneys arent working well, they may be unable to metabolize certain medications properly.
Liver disease can cause symptoms similar to depression, such as lethargy.
If a persons liver isnt working well, it can also indicate alcohol misuse, which canco-occur withorcause depression.
People with an alcohol use disorder are 3.7 times more likely to also experience depression.
Like with the kidneys, its also important to know how well the liver works before prescribing medications.
The organs ability to metabolize drugs properly can influence how they work.
While the exact link is unclear, depression and diabetes often occur together.
Several studies have also indicated that people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing depression.
Your doctor may also check your blood glucose levels before prescribing a medication for depression.
Your doctor might want to check your cholesterol before prescribing certain antidepressants, which may affect your levels.
In some cases, fatigue and lethargy may set in even before tests show a deficiency.
They may even resolve once the condition is managed.
When blood tests indicate you have high cholesterol, your doctor may recommend making some lifestyle changes.
You may find that adjusting your diet and getting regularexercise help ease your depression symptoms, too.
Getting support and treatment for addiction is part of addressing depression.
You should also tell your doctor about any other medications or supplements you are taking to avoid drug interactions.
Once another cause has been ruled out, the focus can be turned toward finding the most effective treatment.
They may refer you to apsychiatristfor a more thorough assessment or to prescribe medication.
Treatment for depression can be as complex as the condition itself.
What works well for one person may not work at all for someone else.
You may also need to use more than one treatment, such aspsychotherapyand antidepressants, at the same time.
You may need tomodify your depression treatmentor start something completely new.
There are many factors that determinewhether someone develops depressionin their lifetime, including genetics and environment.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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