Taking A Depression Quiz
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According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, an estimated 9.5% of Americans will experience a depressive illness in any given year. Additionally, many Americans are living with more than one mental disorder at a given time. Particularly, depressive illnesses tend to co-occur with substance use or anxiety disorders.
Depression is a serious mental health condition that can greatly interfere with the quality of a person’s life. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is known to be linked to a number of physical health concerns including coronary artery disease.
What is depression?
Depression is classified as a common but serious mood disorder that majorly affects how a person thinks and feels. Symptoms tend to disrupt a person’s ability to function as they normally would and often make it difficult to do everyday things like work, sleep, and handle other daily activities.
The common symptoms of depressive disorder
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
- Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling "slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not ease even with treatment
- Suicide attempts or thoughts of death or suicide
Understanding different types of depression
It is important to note that not everyone living with depression will experience all of these symptoms. Some people may experience few, while others may experience many. Additionally, there are multiple types of depression including:
- Major Depression: Includes symptoms of depression most of the time for at least 2 weeks that typically interfere with one’s ability to work, sleep, study, and eat.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia: Often includes less severe symptoms of depression that last much longer, typically for at least 2 years.
- Perinatal Depression: Occurs when a person experiences major depression during pregnancy or after delivery.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder: Typically comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in late fall and early winter and going away during spring and summer.
- Depression with symptoms of psychosis: A severe form of depression where a person experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations.
What causes depression?
To identify the root cause of depression, it is typically most effective to work with a doctor or mental health professional. While depression can exist on its own, it often co-occurs with other physical or mental health conditions.
Some of the more common causes of depression include:
- Stressful life events such as the loss of a loved one, or the breakdown of a relationship.
- Family history, such as the existence of depression and other mental health conditions within your immediate family.
- Past trauma or persistent lack of self-esteem.
- Substance use disorders.
- Certain illnesses including cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, or diabetes.
There are a number of additional mental health conditions that include the existence of major depression disorder. Depressive periods or episodes are particularly common in those with bipolar disorder.
The effectiveness of depression quizzes
While it is not advised to rely on online test results in place of a medical diagnosis, taking a depression quiz or self-assessment can serve as a helpful guide in determining the next steps, or in describing symptoms to your doctor or therapist.
It is likely that seeking a formal depression diagnosis will require a different process for each individual due to a number of factors, including location, getting medical care, and other variables.
Oftentimes, online therapy can serve as a great place to start in the process of seeking help and treatment for symptoms of depression. An online therapist or mental health professional may be able to guide you through your specific process, as well as provide support and guidance throughout your journey.
According to research, online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or “talk therapy” is proven to be equally as effective as in-person therapy when it comes to the reduction of symptoms of certain mental health conditions, including depression.
Additionally, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often utilized in the treatment of major depressive disorder and has proven to be effective.
What are the top three symptoms of depression?
There are many symptoms of depression listed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, three primary criteria are often crucial for a diagnosis to be made, including the following:
- Thoughts of hopelessness
- Thoughts of worthlessness
- A prolonged low mood that interferes significantly with daily functioning
The PHQ-9 has nine initial criteria, each following a primary question. You may be given extra questions on this questionnaire, depending on your answers. The test may look as follows:
How often have you been bothered by any of the following problems in the past two weeks?
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
- Trouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much
- Feeling tired or having little energy
- Poor appetite or overeating
- Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
- Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
- Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite—being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual
- Thoughts that you would be better off dead or hurting yourself
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis helpline at 988 or send a text message to 988 to connect with a crisis provider over SMS. This helpline is available 24/7 to offer support. 988 also offers the option to speak with a counselor over an online chat for those with an internet connection.
After scoring your test at your visit, your doctor or therapist may refer you for extra support or contact someone for you. If any safety risks are present in answer nine, they may help you find emergency mental health support and additional resources.
What are the 10 hits of depression?
The Nedley depression hit hypothesis describes ten key areas or “hits” to identify when diagnosing depression. The hypothesis states that people with challenges in at least four of the ten “hits” may be at a higher risk of developing this disorder. The ten hits include the following:
- Genetic
- Developmental
- Lifestyle
- Circadian rhythm
- Addiction
- Nutrition
- Toxic
- Social/complicated grief
- Medical conditions
- Frontal lobe
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Postpartum depression (PPD)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Note that there are more than five depressive disorders in the DSM-5, and they often co-occur with other conditions, such as alcohol use disorder and anxiety disorders.
There are several signs of anxiety you might notice and several anxiety disorders that can cause them. Below are a few common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, one of the most common diagnoses in the US:
- Physical symptoms, such as shakiness, sweating, or headaches
- Extreme dread for no apparent cause
- Racing thoughts
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Restlessness or difficulty sitting still
- Negative thoughts about the future
- Nervousness and frequent worrying
- Losing track of thought
If you think you may be living with an anxiety disorder, reach out to a mental health professional for evaluation and support.
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Substance or medication-induced depressive disorder
- Depressive disorder due to another condition
- Other specified depressive disorder
- Unspecified depressive disorder
- Post-partum depression (PPD)
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
The GAD-7 test and diagnostic service questionnaire helps professionals track the severity of anxiety symptoms in clients. There are four classification ranges. The highest score you can have on the GAD-7 test is 15 to 21, which is classified as severe.
There are several official screening tests mental health service providers might use to aid in the diagnosis of anxiety disorders, including but not limited to the following:
- Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7)
- Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
- Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
A doctor or therapist may also diagnose an anxiety disorder after an interview with a client about their daily symptoms.
PHQ stands for the “Patient Health Questionnaire,” a screening test meant to look for depressive symptoms in clients in a healthcare setting. This test is often offered to all patients in a healthcare setting, regardless of insurance (like Medicare), to ensure all clients are given a chance to be treated for mental health challenges.
The PHQ-2 examines two of the primary symptoms of depression, including a depressed mood and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities (anhedonia). Contrarily, the PHQ-9 is responsible for questioning clients on their experiences with the primary symptoms of major depressive disorder in the DSM.
GAD-7 stands for the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment, which includes seven items to assess the risk a client or patient has for generalized anxiety disorder.
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