my daughter had a serotonin blood test and levels were normal.

[wolf48]

However i think she has mild to moderate teenage depression:she scores highly on the depression checklist.How definitive is the blood test for serotonin levels in diagnosing depression?

[M4Y0U]

There is more than serotonin implied into depression and other mood disorders.

For depression it can be various neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, well in fact anything related to the monoamine oxidases.

You can actually have a very accurate result based on questionnaires but it is true that we often give a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to depressed and it works pretty well so sometimes it's related to serotonin but it can be way more complicated than that.
She can have normal levels of every neurotransmitters and still be depressed.

Also another important point is the fact that she might be still a teenager (we don't know her age) and therapy is usually the best way to go and a lot of teens will get depression in their teenage years that will eventually vanish without the help of any medication working on various neurotransmitters.

She should see a psychologist and see how it works out.

M4

[FDO]

accurate actually.  mine was way off the charts when they took my blood.  she may just be living the normal teenage depression (depending on how old she is and what it is that she is going through).  other than that, if you are worried about her, see if you cant get her seen by a councelor.  they may suggest her on seein a psych or somethin.  idk, its worth a try i guess.

[mum2four]

I've never though there was a test for depression either, I recently read about the serotonin test for carcinoid syndrome my self.

I'm curious as to what the Dr said about the serotonin test and its connection to depression. If depression was that easy to test for every one with symptoms of depression would be having it.

[MMahon]

Please see..
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003562.htm
"This test may be done to diagnose carcinoid syndrome. Many patients with carcinoid syndrome will have high levels of serotonin in blood and urine."
I've never heard of this test for depression.
Perhaps a visit to her regular physician for a good general exam would be the place to start. Depending on the severity of her symptooms.  Discuss the test with her.
For quicker action, see a good psychiatrist.  I would rank this high on your list as well.
She is luck to have a parent taking such an active role seeking help.
Good luck.