Depression or Bi-Polar??

I was diagnosed with depression 2 years ago. Anti depressants don't seem to work. My father and my Aunt, (fathers sister), both have bi-polar, and they both take Lithium, among other meds,...Is there anyway a Dr. can make an acurate diagnosis through a blood test. How does a Dr. decifer between the two??

Determining whether you are depressed or bipolar isn't something you can find out through blood tests. A qualified psychologist would have to determine the one that fits the patient. There is definatley a difference, the definiton of being depressed is: a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies

now the definition of bi-polar: any of several psychological disorders of mood characterized usually by alternating episodes of depression and mania 鈥攃alled also manic depression manic-depressive illness
Again there is a distinct difference, being Bi-polar, you usually have mood swings, where you may be sad one minute and the all happy the next. Depression on the other hand you are sad for long periods of time.

The both are usually inherited. You mentioned that your father & aunt are both diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder,and they are on Lithium. Lithiun is a very strong medication and can be very effective. Being on Lithium does however require that bloodwork be taken regularly to make sure that the medicine is within theraputic levels.

I'm sorry that the anti depressants don't seem to be working for you, that happened to me as well. I was almost ready to give up, but I did find one that did work. And with that and just pushing myself to get out, socialize, motivate and doing some research on alternative methods to reduce my depression, I did get past it. I am sure you are just depressed right now and I am sure it will pass and you will be able to move on with your life. I wish you the best of luck and If you ever need to just talk to someone, please feel free to email me. Source(s): Mental Health Dictionary & Terminology .... personal experience

My mother and sister have both been diagnosed as bi-polar. I probably am too, as it is in your genetics i believe. They were both diagnosed through blood testing, but I have been told they can no longer do that, that you have to see a psychiatrist and be diagnosed.
Depression is something anyone can get, some people are worse than others. Bi-polar has to do with a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Hope that helped...
There is no blood test for bipolar disorder or for depression. They are diagnosed through the behavior of the patient. It is common for bipolar to be diagnosed as depression at first, as people in the euphoric stage of bipolar disorder rarely seek help. It is known to run in families, so there is a good chance that this is your problem. Ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist. S/he will ask you some questions to determine if you are bipolar. Sometimes the determining factor is whether Lithium helps. Good luck.
You can't make an accurate diagnosis by doing a blood test. Bi-polar is another way of saying Manic Depressive. Basically having manic episodes as well as depressed ones. There are many different levels of bi-polar, in fact you could have only ever had one manic episode and still be considered bi-polar. Depression is depression. The same as it would be with bi-polar without the manic side.
Diagnosis in this case usually depends on patient signs (what the doctor observes on the patient) & symptoms (what the patient complains of) as well as patient history, paricularly what friends & family members relate of the episodes.
I don't think blood tests have much to do with the diagnosis of either depression or bipolar disorder.
They r very similar, differing mostly in the fact that bipolar disorder is depression mixed with episodes of severe euphoria (abnormal ecstasy).
U have first degree relatives with bipolar disorder, & mental disorders have genetic basis....does ur doctor know about that?
If he does, & he still confirms ur diagnosis, then u could suggest that he change the type or dose of antidepressants since they're not working, or u could wait to see if they will after some time.
There are some with Bi Polar that cannot take Lithium. In that case usually Depacode is someitmes used. That drug is normally for seizures but I know it worked for someone close to me. Lithium built up in their system and caused more problems so a switch was made in medication and that helped. It is very important to continue to take the meds even when you are feeling good. That is sometimes hard to do, I know but it keeps an even amount in the system and keeps you on a more even keel.