What tests can be taken to identify depression in a person (maybe the absence of some trace elements, and so on), and on the basis of which to go to the doctor?

Dear author of the question! The diagnosis of depression is based on a person's specific complaints, special questionnaires and tests. It is also necessary to exclude chronic somatic diseases, the presence of which can lead to depressive symptoms (thyroid disease, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, chronic pain in various pathologies, etc.). Psychological research is carried out by a neurologist or psychiatrist. If you do not have any manifestations of diseases of internal organs and pain syndromes, but there are only manifestations of a behavioral nature and a change in the background of mood, then they may be due to a violation of the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine, the level of which we recommend to determine in the blood (in the INVITRO Laboratory tests No. 993, KATEPL). We also recommend donating blood for screening of thyroid function according to profile No. 76, trace elements zinc and selenium (tests No. 868, 869) and contact the appropriate specialist. In addition, one of the biochemical markers of depression is a decrease in the level of the amino acid tryptophan, which is not determined in the INVITRO Laboratory.

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Depression is a complex mental illness.
One factor is enough to go to the doctor:
1. Depressed / depressed / bad mood that lasts more than a month. Especially if there were no negative factors (death of relatives / dismissal / any other serious rubbish).

Any tests will be prescribed directly by the psychiatrist. He is the first doctor you should go to. It is not a fact that you really have depression, but if you are not satisfied with your psychological state, this is a reason to go to the doctor as soon as possible ASAP .