Psychometric Test for Manic Depression
Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, occurs due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, which may result in severe mood swings from manic highs to distressing lows. The psychometric test is used for diagnosing manic depression. Although the diagnosis can make people confused and anxious, it is not something beyond treatment or management. Even though it is treatable and manageable, manic depression itself is a complex illness that may affect one's life profoundly. Therefore, early diagnosis is important. This article sheds light on different available psychometric tests available for diagnosing manic depression in an individual.
Self Assessment Test
If you feel that you may be suffering from manic depression, a self-assessment test for manic depression may be of great help to you. In order to administer the test for diagnosing manic depression in yourself you do not need to go anywhere. Many medical research organizations and institutions offer a wide range of opportunities that you can easily avail via the Internet. Although many of them are not authentic and are not truly based on scientific measures, quite a few are well up to the mark. In a self-assessment test for manic depression, all you need to do is answer few questions that typically come in multiple choice format. There is no right or wrong answers. You have to answer according to your own mental status and with complete honesty.
Doctor Recommended Test
Instead of doing an online test for manic depression, many people actually prefer to visit a psychiatrist at this time because they feel they can not simply handle the situation by themselves any longer. More generally, doctors prefer to use Beck's Depression Inventory or Glasgow Depression Scale in order to test for manic depression in the patient.
These types of scales have the required degree of reliability and validity. The results retrieved from these scales are more accurate and self-explanatory. Doctors only consider the standardized tests for measuring the depression level in an individual and only after identifying the degree of depression can they recommend prescription drugs or other treatments.
Beyond The Test
Before sending patients for testing for depression doctors try to diagnose from many overt symptoms such as sad mood, loss of interest, change in appetite, unusual weight gain or loss, loss of energy, difficulty in sleeping, recurrent thoughts of suicide and other negative behaviors.
However, sometimes symptoms of manic depression are overshadowed by the symptoms of other disorders. Doctors with knowledge and expertise in this field are able to make the distinction. In order to be certain about their diagnosis and to analyze the degree of depression, they usually recommend the patient to go for a test for manic depression.
