Diagnosing Depression
There are many tests to assess the level of depression. Though you should remember that testing is just an auxiliary method of diagnosis and its results can't be used as a strong reason for diagnosis. Only an experienced specialist can justify or deny the existence of depression.
Each claim can have 4 answers. Select one of theses answers, which corresponds to your state, and then sum your scores.
1. I feel stress, I am not myself.
— 3 – all the time
— 2 – often
— 1 – from time to time, sometimes
— 0 – do not feel
2. What brought me great pleasure once, now gives me the same feeling.
— 0 – definitely true
— 1 – probably it is true
— 2 – only to a very small extent it is true
— 3 – it is not true
3. I experience fear, it often seems to me that something terrible can happen.
— 3 – it is definitely so and my fear is huge
— 2 – yes it is true, but my fear is not so great
— 3 – sometimes, but it doesn't bother me
— 0 – do not feel it at all
4. I am able laugh and see in any event something funny.
— 0 – it is definitely so
— 1 – probably it is true
— 2 – it is true only a very small extent
— 3 – I am not able
5. Troubled thoughts run in my head.
— 3 – permanently
— 2 – most of the time
— 1 – from time to time and as often
— 0 – sometimes
6. I experience cheerfulness.
— 3 – do not experience at all
— 2 – very rare
— 1 – sometimes
— 0 – practically all the time
7. I can easily sit down and relax.
— 0 – it is definitely so
— 1 – I think so
— 2 – It happens seldom
— 3 – I can't do it
8. It seems to me that I do everything very slowly.
— 3 – practically all the time
— 2 – often
— 1 – sometimes
— 0 – never
9. I feel internal stress or tremor.
— 0 – do not feel at all
— 1 – sometimes
— 2 – often
— 3 – very often
10. I look after myself.
— 3 – it is definitely so
— 2 – I can't find much time for that
— 1 – maybe I spare less time for this
— 0 – I look after myself as before
11. I experience restlessness, I have to move all the time.
— 3 – it is definitely so
— 2 – I think so
— 1 – this is true only to a certain extent
— 0 – do not experience at all
12. I think my occupation and hobbies can bring me satisfaction.
— 0 – it can do it as before
— 1 – yes, but not to that extent as before
— 2 – far less than usual
— 3 – I don't think so
13. I can feel a sudden sense of panic.
— 3 – very often
— 2 – quite often
— 1 – not too often
— 0 – it never happens
14. I can enjoy a good book, radio or television program.
— 0 – often
— 1 – sometimes
— 2 – rarely
— 3 – very rare
For the interpretation of results you must sum the numbers of each question.
0 - 7 – It's a norm (the absence of reliable symptoms of anxiety and depression)
8 - 10 – subclinically expressed anxiety depression
11 and above - clinically expressed anxiety depression