A Depression Quiz: Are You Suffering from Depression?

A Depression Quiz: Are You Suffering from Depression?

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9  (PHQ-9) is a screening tool used by healthcare providers to identify whether an individual may have a depressive disorder.

This depression quiz is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It does not substitute for a formal diagnosis of depression. Please consider seeing a mental health professional if your score suggests you may be suffering from depression.

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

Score each question with the following:

Not at all – 0

Several Days – 1

More than half the days – 2

Nearly every day – 3

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things

2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
 
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
 
4. Feeling tired or having little energy
 
5. Poor appetite or overeating

6. Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down

7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television

8  Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite being so figety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more
than usual

9.  Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself

Add items 1 through 9.  Total score: _____

Answer the final question.

10. If you checked off any problems, how difficult  have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?

___ Not difficult at all
___ Somewhat difficult
___ Very difficult
___ Extremely difficult

Interpretation of Total Score

To reiterate, your score does not necessarily mean you are suffering from depression. If you are concerned about your score, please consult with a mental health professional for a full evaluation.  Please consider sharing your results with your healthcare provider.

Other resources that may be helpful include self-help books such as Feeling Good by David D. Burns and How to Be Happy (Or at Least Less Sad): A Creative Workbook by Lee Crutchley and Oliver Burkeman.

If you have thoughts of hurting yourself, contact The Suicide Prevention Hotline, your local mental health center, or 911. Click on these for the hotline number and for a directory of mental health centers.

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