Depression Treatment Test

Think you may be depressed? How do you know? What’s the difference between being sad and being depressed? Will these feelings just pass? Should you make an appointment with your doctor or are you just overreacting?

These are good questions and maybe it will help to answer them if you understood a little more about what depression is and how to determine if you might be suffering from depression.

Common Signs of Depression


· Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair that don’t go away
· Feeling anxiety and fear for no reason
· Feeling tired all the time
· Gaining or losing weight rapidly
· Sleeping all the time or having chronic insomnia
· Having a hard time concentrating, making decisions and focusing
· Feeling guilty or unworthy when there’s no good reason
· Feeling restless or edgy, unable to sit still
· Thinking of death and suicide

Depression Treatment Tests


If you think you may have some of the signs of depression, there are several tests you can take online to determine if you may need treatment. These are usually questionnaires that ask you to rate your feelings and determine your level of depression based on your responses. The following is a list of tests that you may find helpful in determining whether or not you may be suffering from depression.

· Wakefield Questionnaire
· Goldberg Depression Questionnaire
· Geriatric Depression Scale
· Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
· Zung Questionnaire

Most of these questionnaires contain the same sorts of questions. The following is an example of the types of questions you will find on these tests.

Sample Questions

· My future seems hopeless.
___Not at all
___Just a little
___Somewhat
___Moderately
___Quite a lot
___Very much
· I have difficulty making decisions.
___Not at all
___Just a little
___Somewhat
___Moderately
___Quite a lot
___Very much
· I feel like a failure.
___Not at all
___Just a little
___Somewhat
___Moderately
___Quite a lot
___Very much
· Without trying to diet, I have lost, or gained, weight.
___ Not at all
___ Just a little
___Somewhat
___Moderately
___Quite a lot
___ Very much

Once you have completed the questionnaire, it will be scored and you will receive a score and evaluation, such as:

“You scored a total of 51.
You appear to be suffering from moderate to severe depressive symptoms commonly associated with serious depressive disorders, such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or dysthymia. These symptoms appear to be causing you some serious impairment and distress in your normal, everyday functioning. You would likely benefit from the immediate attention of your physician or a trained mental health professional for further evaluation and a more accurate diagnosis and treatment. If your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program, you might also contact them for help and referral.”


Seeing Your Doctor


Now that you know your diagnosis, it’s time to see your doctor. Since an online test isn’t a true diagnosis, you need to see your doctor to be absolutely certain that you are suffering from depression and that you need treatment. Only your doctor can make that diagnosis. The online test is something that you can use as a guide and is a good thing to show your doctor to give her an idea of what you are thinking might be the issue at hand. Once she examines you and makes a true determination of your symptoms and diagnoses that you do have depression, you two can discuss treatment options.

Treatments for Depression

There are many great treatments options out there for depression and you and your doctor can talk about them in detail. Talk therapy with a mental health professional is probably going to be your first choice, and your doctor might prescribe antidepressants along with that. There are many great drugs on the market today that can really help you feel better. Coupling them with talk therapy can make you feel great in no time at all and you’ll be amazed and how bright and sunny life really is when you get the right treatment going for your depression. Things may have been pretty gloomy and bleak, but don’t lose heart. There is hope out there and depression does not have to run your life.

 

"I had been on medication for ten years prior to using the Attacking Anxiety and Depression Program. Ten years and even my psychiatrist said I may have to be on drugs for the rest of my life. Now without medication I feel wonderful. The Attacking Anxiety and Depression Program was a miracle for me." - Ginny

So there I was, a nurse, working in the emergency room taking care of people who have this and I couldn't help myself. I am different now because of the program. I'm living life, I am connected. I feel more energetic. I enjoy silly things. I used to say that I just didn't have time for that. If I wouldn't have found the program I think I would still be on a very dark road. - Mona

I'm looking forward to life now knowing all of the skills and all of the useful information from the Attacking Anxiety and Depression Program. It will change the way you live, change the way you eat, change the way you exercise. This program has made me look at life and the way I feel in ways I never had before. - Victor

Before I found the program I had trouble just walking out to the mailbox to get the mail. I thought I was going to drop over and die or faint. After the program, everything's changed. I'm just glad that I can live my life and not be afraid of what people think. I'm not afraid to go for my dreams, I don't sit around and wait as life passes my by. - Elizabeth

I first started experiencing anxiety and panic attacks when I was in college. I didn't understand what was happening so I started isolating myself and I started drinking more. I started feeling better when I first got the program. Life now to me is very good. There is more for me to do and I can do anything if I put my mind to it. - Roderick