Depression Self-Test

This questionnaire was prepared by the Village Counseling Center in San Luis Obispo California, based on material from the National Institute of Mental Health's Depression Awareness, Recognition and Treatment Program.

This quick, simple self-test can help distinguish between clinical depression and the normal fluctuations of mood experienced from time to time by most people. Sadness is a normal part of life, but sometimes when sadness persists, it becomes what mental health authorities call the nation's leading psychological problem, clinical depression, also known as major depression.

    1) Much of the time do you feel...
  • Sad?
  • Lethargic?
  • Pessimistic?
  • Hopeless?
  • Worthless?
  • Helpless?
    2) Much of the time do you...
  • Have difficulty making decisions?
  • Have trouble concentrating?
  • Have memory problems?
    3) Lately have you...
  • Lost interest in things that used to give you pleasure?
  • Had problems at work or in school?
  • Had problems with your family or friends?
  • Isolated yourself from others? Or wanted to?
    4) Lately have you...
  • Felt like you have low energy?
  • Felt restless and irritable?
  • Had trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting up in the morning?
  • Lost your appetite? Or gained weight?
  • Been bothered by persistent headaches, stomach aches or back aches? Muscle or joint pains?
    5) Lately have you...
  • Been drinking more alcohol than you used to?
  • Been taking more mood-altering drugs than you used to?
  • Engaged in risky behavior? (e.g., not wearing a seat belt, crossing streets without looking, driving faster than normal)
    6) Lately, have you been thinking about...
  • Death?
  • Hurting yourself?
  • Your funeral?
  • Killing yourself?

If you answer "yes" to more than two of these questions, you may well be clinically depressed. Consult your physician or a mental health professional for a thorough assessment and treatment.

Source: The Village Counseling Center (© 2005). Adapted from materials created by the National Institute of Mental Health's Depression Awareness, Recognition, and Treatment (D/ART) Program, Rockville, MD

See our Recovery Resources page for more information about depression, and about where you can go for help. The National Institute of Mental Health is a good starting point and resource guide.

Important note: These self-assessment tools are not a professional diagnosis or opinion. While the results may provide you with useful information, they are not substitutes for the advice of someone trained in identifying and treating addictive disorders, who can understand your personal situation. Friends of Choices provides the information herein "as is," without warranties of any kind. We make no representations including without limitation warranties as to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, or fitness for any purpose of any information or link to information contained on this site or other sites or correspondence. Under no circumstances shall Friends of Choices or any of its directors, employees or consultants be liable to the user for any damages whatsoever.

"Take the Test" is a service mark of Friends of Choices Inc., a not-for-profit corporation in the service of people with chemical dependency and those who love them. "Take the Test" is sponsored by the individuals and organizations that support Friends Of Choices. We thank them for their support and commitment to you and me and recovery.

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