ABSTRACT
Having spent Chapter 1 defining what we mean by depression, Chapter 2 will focus on the processes of diagnosis and assessment. The initial part of this chapter will describe the rates of depression worldwide before explaining how the condition develops, identifying potential risk factors associated with it. Following this will be an in-depth section detailing the various forms of depression as set out in DSM-5. The chapter then turns to assessment. Although one might argue that assessment should be considered before specific diagnoses, for the purpose of this chapter, I say that we need to know more about what the individual diagnoses are before we can consider how people are assessed as the way symptoms manifest differ significantly. We shall look at measures developed for specific populations and those with particular age groups in mind. As with most, if not all diagnoses, it is rare for a condition to occur independently. The issue of comorbidity crops up all over the place. It is an important issue that requires much consideration in terms of accurate assessment and identifying the most appropriate intervention. This chapter will end with a look at the role of different cultures and societies in terms of how people experience depression.
