The NHS Depression Test

Depression self-assessment test
This is for information only and is not intended to replace a consultation with a GP. The PHQ was developed by Drs Robert L Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenka and colleagues with a grant from Pfizer Inc. Reproduced with permission.

Hurrah for Pfizer. Together with the NHS they will rescue us from the blight of depression.

EDIT:

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:

Preezy wrote:It's perfectly normal to sob whilst you masturbate.

Sounds like my plans for tomorrow.

I think they can help you out with that one too.

YouSmellOfWee wrote:

SandyCoin wrote:Gotta say some of the comments in here are actually quite staggering. I like to hope they aren't said seriously and it's just "Internet" opinions.

Not really. The majority people simply don't understand what depression is, and as such they don't think it's a real illness. It's not just something that some people on this forum think, but it's a worrying trend all over the place.

Too many confuse sadness with depression, and as such they can't grasp quite how people can't just 'cheer up' and 'stop being depressed'.

Apparently.

Seriously, 9 questions? I am on anti-depressants myself, and I can tell you this is bullshit.

BTW, to people on this thread who think depression is an excuse: If you don't understand depression because you've never suffered yourself, it might not be a physical illness to you but I can tell you that the mind governs your body, and if your mind can't be bothered neither can your body. Not to mention the wide list of problems that depression can give you. Imagine if you couldn't enjoy anything, even the fun stuff. You feel like a right downer at parties, and you don't want to talk to anyone. You want desperately to smile genuinely but it just won't happen, and you feel like a burden on others because you want them to enjoy themselves even if you can't. Until you understand like some people do, you have no right to make such harsh comments. One day (Everyone goes through a period of depression in their lives), when you have the same feelings, when you feel like society could do better off without you, you will take back every word.

Says I'm unlikely to be depressed.

Pacman wrote:

Scotticus Erroticus wrote:Peoples ignorance on the subject of depression isn't worth getting annoyed about. It simply isn't worth it.

Aye suppose you're right. It's something that gets to me though. Hold me

*hugs*


I think quite a few people who hold these crazy, Daily Mail type opinions on the subject actually don't want to know the truth about it. All you can do is laugh at them, I think, we can't change them. Some people just lack the intelligence to understand it, which, is fair enough.

Scotticus Erroticus wrote:

Pacman wrote:

Scotticus Erroticus wrote:Peoples ignorance on the subject of depression isn't worth getting annoyed about. It simply isn't worth it.

Aye suppose you're right. It's something that gets to me though. Hold me

*hugs*


I think quite a few people who hold these crazy, Daily Mail type opinions on the subject actually don't want to know the truth about it. All you can do is laugh at them, I think, we can't change them. Some people just lack the intelligence to understand it, which, is fair enough.

I can't laugh at them. They tend to be happy and oblivious. I wish I was.

Scotticus Erroticus wrote:Do you really think that doctors and mental health staff use this, and only this, to diagnose depression?

In terms of a 10 mintue GP consultation, from what I've seen there isn't a great deal more to it than this. Obviously they take a full history first, but If you score highly on the questionnaire and it's affecting your life significantly, that seems to be enough to put you on the referral/treatment path

Depression - when it's genuine - is a rancid condition exacerbated by the attitude of laymen who think you should just " perk up and pull yourself together. It can be a dreadfully debilitating condition and the worse thing is it's often accompanied by anxiety too. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I say when it's genuine because we all get low moods but it has to be diagnosed and pervasive to be classed as Depression. People frequently say 'oh I'm depressed' when they're feeling a bit flat

I don't think any other mental illness is dismissed and claimed at the same time. It's infuriating.

Pacman wrote:Learned - say you try at something and you fail, then you try again and fail again. "Learned helplessness" is a behavioural theory that carries some weight. Experiments were done on dogs, they were electrocuted until they became depressed

Lol what? Clearly whoever came to this conclusion never played video games, I spent three days trying to knock out the Fury in MGS 3 to get his Camo, I just got more mad and determined every time I lost, not depressed.

Also the test said I am not depressed.

Denster wrote:Depression - when it's genuine - is a rancid condition exacerbated by the attitude of laymen who think you should just " perk up and pull yourself together. It can be a dreadfully debilitating condition and the worse thing is it's often accompanied by anxiety too. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I say when it's genuine because we all get low moods but it has to be diagnosed and pervasive to be classed as Depression. People frequently say 'oh I'm depressed' when they're feeling a bit flat

I don't think any other mental illness is dismissed and claimed at the same time. It's infuriating.

In addition to that it's fairly easy to get diagnosed with depression, even if you aren't. You can easily see the 'correct' answers to the question if you're looking for an excuse to be bone idle.

Rightey wrote:

Pacman wrote:Learned - say you try at something and you fail, then you try again and fail again. "Learned helplessness" is a behavioural theory that carries some weight. Experiments were done on dogs, they were electrocuted until they became depressed

Lol what? Clearly whoever came to this conclusion never played video games, I spent three days trying to knock out the Fury in MGS 3 to get his Camo, I just got more mad and determined every time I lost, not depressed.

I think it applies more to victims of child abuse, for example, than people having trouble with video games

Judging by the posts on this last page, I don't think I want to read the rest of the thread. Few things make me angrier than people who deny their mental health privilege, and I don't want to be angry this week.

hoodboilu4 wrote:Seriously, 9 questions? I am on anti-depressants myself, and I can tell you this is bullshit.

Really? I'm pretty sure that every doctor I have seen concerning depression or anxiety has used the PHQ-9 or GAD-7 form in way or another. It was also used when I was referred for cognitive behavioural therapy, so I really don't think it is bullshit.

I seem to be doing better on a higher daily dose of a SSRI too, with the higher dose being administered as my scores were still in the threshold where medication rather than counselling may be a better option.

It says I should see a GP. I have signs anxiety issues, but I wouldn't say I'm depressed. Putting most of it down to teenage angst at the moment.