There are certain standard depressions tests that doctors or psychiatrists give their patients in order to try and determine whether they suffer from most of the symptoms of depression or not. The answers to these questions help to diagnose the problem better and help in better prescribing and better treatment. This is why it is necessary that these questions are answered honestly and preferably answered by the patient as well as someone close to him or her. This must be done separately so together it adds up to a more objective assessment.
Here is a depression quiz that you might want to take online which steers you through the many symptoms of the condition and helps you assess whether you or someone close to you might be suffering from depression. Tick Yes, No or Maybe and then tote up your points to see the results.
| Yes | No | Maybe | |
| Do you feel sad and unhappy all day? | |||
| Have you been having recurring suicidal thoughts lately? | |||
| Does everything about life suddenly seem pointless? | |||
| Do you see a change in your eating habits, your appetite? | |||
| Have your sleep patterns changed? | |||
| Do you sleep less, find that you wake up and can’t go back to sleep? | |||
| Have you lost all interest in hobbies or any kind of pleasurable activity? | |||
| Do you feel you are a good-for-nothing? | |||
| Do you feel like crying for no reason? | |||
| Do you feel tired all day? | |||
| Are the chores or the work suddenly too much for you to cope with? | |||
| Do you feel guilty even though you’ve done nothing wrong? | |||
| Do you feel restless and find it difficult to concentrate on anything? | |||
| Do you prefer being alone to being with people? |
Add 2 points for every Yes, 1 for every Maybe and no points for every No. Now add it all up and see what your total says.
0 to 7 – There’s no need for you to worry at all. You’re all right and don’t need any treatment for depression. However, if you are feeling out of sorts, see a doctor because some of those symptoms could be because of certain other conditions or factors.
8 to 14 – While most people in this bracket do not need to worry, you might want to stop by at the doctor’s to get that niggling feeling of ‘what if’ out of your head and also to check that you are not suffering from any other complication.
15 to 21 – This could be the beginning of depression or it could be that you are suffering from it in a mild form. Go talk to a qualified doctor so he can assess what you need and start you off on a course of treatment so you feel better.
22 to 28 – In all probability what you are going through is depression and you need treatment immediately. Put yourself in the hands of a good doctor who can diagnose and prescribe for your condition and who can monitor your progress. You don’t need to suffer from the terrible symptoms that depression brings in its wake anymore. There is treatment to make you feel all right and active again.