How do psychologists (or other mental health professionals) figure out if you have depression?

I'm doing a project and I need to answer this question... I'm pretty sure that they have a questionnaire/survey, but I can't seem to find if there's a specific name to it... Or if there are any other ways?

[yes, I have been searching and trying to find out on my own, for about a week.]

There you go the sreening test is below. Please give me my 10 pts. lol

thats easy as i have studied psychology and yes there is a sort of questionnaire in reagards to mental health but what they do first is

1) ask how you are who you are and your intentions in life (this is to try and create a bond between them and the client)
2) while you are speaking to them they are observing your body language i.e. your posture also sometimes it is known for people to scracth there arms hard or nip the back of the hands evening thou they dont relize they are doing it
3) then they will start asking you your opinion in life what triggers you to feel down and what triggers you to feel positive
4) once they have built the "assesment" on you the then want to know when you feel negitive what do you think/do weather its you fell like life would be better without you, self harming or taking aggression out on things/people
if you want more info then do not hestitate to email me
chris

There is a questionnaire health professionals use to determine levels of depression. Usually there are fair indicators but depression can come in many guises and strenghts so it is also important to determine the seriousness and the kind of depression. Look up mental health charities on the web, they will inform you about depression and let you know what they are and what methods are used to treat and diagnose it.

They will ask you about whether you have certain symptoms, how long you have had them, etc.

Take a look here for the criteria: http://www.mental-health-today.com/dep/d...

They will also probably ask you to fill out a questionnaire called a depression inventory. The Beck Depression Inventory, developed by the famous cognitive psychologist, Aaron T. Beck. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_depre... for more.

They use the DSM-IV or Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, written & published by the American Psychiatric Association.

You can google DSM-IV or DSM-IV TR and find lots of info on it. Just avoid Wikipedia because their info isn't always accurate.
Here's a good (and accurate) link I found that can help you:
http://www.falseallegations.com/dsm-dprj...
Just be certain to cite the DSM-IV as a reference for your work.

Becks depression inventory is the main one. Though some have questioned its validity. Most professional use counselling skills as well, and experience plays a large part in working out what people are really saying / feeling as oppossed to what they appear to be.

They can give you a survey. At the end of the test they will add up the numbers, then compare them to a answer key that they have. IDK what the name of the test is, sry. Maybe you could call a phychologists office from the phone book?

They look in a book called the DSM-IV, as well as other thing.

Research that. It'll help.

Here's a very easy question to ask that will tell you what you need to know.
Do you feel helpless and hopeless?
If so, that's depression.