A friend of yours tells you that he thinks he is mildly depressed, but he's not sure. Knowing that you are studying abnormal psychology, he asks if there is any kind of laboratory test that could determine whether or not someone is depressed. You respond correctly with one of the following statements:
A) Currently there is no way of diagnosing depression with a laboratory test.
B) The dexamethasone suppression test is a biological test for depression.
C) The dexamethasone suppression test can only be used to diagnose severe cases of depression.
D) Cortisol levels are decreased in depression; he could have his cortisol levels checked by a blood test.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Currently, there is no laboratory test that can determine whether someone is depressed or not. Diagnosis of depression is done through clinical interviews and self-report measures. While there are some biological tests that can give insight into the physiology of depression, they are not definitive diagnostic tests.

A Friend of Yours Tells You That He Thinks He