How Is a Chemical Imbalance Diagnosed?
Symptoms A chemical imbalance is identified by the presence of too many or not enough chemicals in the brain that regulate mood and mental health symptoms. It can be difficult to determine if mental illness is caused by a chemical imbalance or if the disorder is situational. If a person is suffering with symptoms related to a mental health disorder like depression, anxiety or other extreme emotions or behavior, it is possible that he has a chemical imbalance that is causing the symptoms. The presence of mental health symptoms indicates a need for an appropriate diagnostic exam performed by a psychiatrist. Diagnosis A patient that is dealing with mental health symptoms will be interviewed by a psychiatrist. The clinical interview will involve a series of questions to determine the patient’s mental status and the symptoms he is experiencing. The psychiatrist may wish to interview any family members that are available to get a more complete picture of the mental health condition. The psyc