Editorial information
Published by Foundry Integrative Psychiatry and Wellness, PLLC. Updated 2026-10-25. Clinical review of this revision is pending; no clinician sign-off is claimed.
The numbers are larger than most people expect
Medical conditions contribute to depressive symptoms more often than many people expect. Sleep apnea alone affects roughly a third of people with major depression and is routinely missed, because its daytime symptoms — fatigue, poor concentration, irritability — look psychiatric.
Your medicine cabinet is part of the evaluation
More than 200 common prescription medications list depression as a possible side effect, and people taking several of them report depressive symptoms more often. Blood-pressure medications, steroids, hormonal agents, acid reducers, and others belong in the conversation — which is why Foundry asks for every medication and supplement, with doses.
What gets checked, and why history leads
Baseline labs are often checked for new presentations — thyroid function, blood counts, metabolic panel, B12 and folate — and a careful history and medication review often finds more than routine lab panels do. The long first conversation is the diagnostic instrument; labs confirm what it raises.
Safety and scope
This guide is general education, not medical advice. It does not create a treatment relationship, diagnose a condition, promise medication, or replace crisis care. For immediate danger use 911, 988, or the nearest emergency department.
Related service
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation
A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is the starting point for care at Foundry, reviewing current concerns, psychiatric history, medical history, medications, prior treatment response, sleep, substance use, family history, relationships, functioning, safety, and goals.