Once someone receives evaluation, depression is easy to diagnose. Depression symptoms may be overlooked early on if they are mild. Depression can be dismissed or mistaken for the effects of stress or fatigue. Many people wait until depression symptoms are severe before they seek evaluation and treatment. According to one study, only 1 in 5 people with depression seeks care. In many cultures and communities, there is a stigma surrounding depression and other mental illnesses that discourages people from getting diagnosed and treated.

Most people are diagnosed with depression by their primary care physician. Your general practitioner may continue to treat your depression, or they may refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist. “Psychotherapist” is a catchall term for someone who is certified in helping people with mental health issues. Depending on their training, a psychotherapist might be a psychiatrist, social worker, marriage and family therapist (MFT), or psychologist. Psychiatrists hold medical degrees that allow them to prescribe antidepressants and other medications; psychologists, MFTs, and social workers cannot prescribe.

Diagnosis of depression and other mood disorders is based on criteria published in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM) by the American Psychiatric Association. The current edition is the fifth, known as the DSM-5.

How Is Depression Diagnosed?

To diagnose someone with depression, a doctor will look for the following symptoms:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or panicky mood
• Irritability or feelings of frustration or anger
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities and hobbies
• Loss of interest in sex
• Becoming tired more easily or extreme fatigue
• Appetite or weight changes
• Thoughts of suicide or death
• Suicide attempts
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
• Loss of confidence or sense of self-worth

Be as honest and open as you can with your doctor when reporting symptoms. Most people will not experience all of these symptoms, but if someone has low mood and several of the listed symptoms that have lasted for more than two weeks, a doctor will likely diagnose depression.

There are no laboratory tests that can diagnose depression, but blood or urine tests may be ordered to rule out medical conditions with overlapping symptoms.

Diagnosing Subtypes of Depression

Some subtypes of depression are diagnosed in slightly different ways.

Bipolar Disorder

To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have had at least one episode of mania (high, euphoric state) in addition to depression symptoms. Bipolar disorder symptoms may overlap with other illnesses, which can complicate diagnosis. People with bipolar disorder may also have an eating disorder, anxiety disorder, or substance abuse problems. If a person with bipolar disorder experiences psychotic symptoms, they may be first misdiagnosed with schizophrenia before the correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) takes longer to diagnose than clinical depression because diagnosis requires that a person has experienced symptoms during the same season (winter or summer) for at least two years.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PD), also known as postnatal depression, occurs after childbirth. A doctor will ask about thoughts and feelings in order to determine whether the cause is “baby blues”—which lasts one or two weeks—or a more severe form of depression. Blood and urine tests may be ordered to check for underactive thyroid or other potential causes before the diagnosis of postpartum depression is given.

Learn more about the types of depression.

Condition Guide

• Depression — An Overview
• Types of Depression
• Causes of Depression
• Symptoms of Depression
• Treatments for Depression