Online depression test
If you’re suffering from depression, or you’re not sure whether what you are experiencing is depression or just a temporary low mood, you might be looking for a quick way to assess how you are feeling from an outside objective perspective. In depression therapy we take the time to explore many different aspects of your life to assess your mood and overall mental health. If you aren’t currently in therapy though, our online self test can be a way to help you gauge your own depression and decide whether therapy or other depression treatments are right for you.
The following is a reproduction of a public domain test developed for the Pfizer corporation called the PHQ-9, or Patient Health Questionnaire 9. It has been proven to be accurate in predicting depression (1), though it is also important to realize its limitations. Self tests like this are not a substitute for professional help and cannot be used to determine 100% if you have a diagnosis of depression. It can, however, be a helpful tool to help you determine if getting professional help would be a good idea.
Online Depression Test
To complete the test, answer each question below and add up the score totals to determine your results.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
4. Feeling tired or having little energy
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
5. Poor appetite or overeating
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
6. Feeling bad about yourself - or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
8. 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
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself
(0) Not at all
(1) Several Days
(2) More than half the days
(3) Nearly every day
Results
Add up all of your points and see where you rate on the following scale:
0-4 - Minimal depression
5-9 - Mild depression
10-14 - Moderate depression
15-19 - Moderately severe depression
20-27 - Severe depression
Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.
—
If you are needing support, feel free to reach out. Connor Moss with Pacific Psychotherapy offers depression therapy, anxiety therapy, trauma therapy, couples therapy and drug and alcohol counseling in Santa Cruz, and online anywhere in California. Reach out today with any questions or to schedule a free and confidential phone consultation.
Sources
1) https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/assessment/tools/patient-health#:~:text=The%20diagnostic%20validity%20of%20the,it%20has%20sound%20psychometric%20properties.