Difficulties of diagnosis on depression
Depression is
a complex illness for it can be an illness in its own right, it can be
mistaken for other mental illnesses and it can also exist as part of
physical disease. In addition, it can be mistaken for physical illnesses.
Depression is not the result of an inadequate personality.
Even when depression exists in its own right and the primary diagnosis is
depression, the anxiety associated with it may be so great that the
family doctor diagnoses anxiety rather than depression. Panic attacks,
obsessions and phobias are also common in depression.
Secondary illness
Depression can also exist as a secondary illness when the primary
condition is agoraphobia, social phobia, substance abuse, alcoholism,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attack or anxiety. It is also common
in many physical illnesses, especially stroke, cancer and Parkinson's
disease. It may also be associated with dementias and Alzheimer's
disease. It is often seen in long-term illnesses, that is, chronic,
disabling conditions such as heart disease and arthritis.
Depression can be mistaken for thyroid disease, the onset of the
menopause, glandular fever or the early stages of cancer when there are
no signs other than pain to indicate cancer.
It is not your fault
Despite the fact that depression is a recognizable illness, many people,
including some doctors, still believe that the symptoms amount to
spinelessness, malingering, understandable misery or grief. "Pull
yourself together" or "Get a grip on yourself" have become cliches simply
because they are so often said by relatives or friends. No one who has
ever suffered the fear and anguish of true depression would make that
mistake. You are not to blame, but can take positive steps to recovery.
Self-monitoring
Keep a diary
to record how you felt when you were depressed so that you may refer to
it again in the event of a further episode. If you strongly believe that
depression is only part of what you are suffering, you should persist
with your family doctor and ask for a hospital referral. Ask for a second
opinion if you are still not satisfied.
Key Facts:
Anxiety, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder are often mistaken for
depression. It can be wrongly diagnosed for some physical illnesses and
it is, therefore, important that the relevant diagnostic tests are
carried out. Even when it accompanies a major physical illness,
depression still needs to be treated.
