Depression Self-Assessment
How Do I Know If I Am Depressed?
Everyone feels sad or down from time to time and this is a normal part of our human experience. However, if you have noticed or others in your life have noticed that your low moods are interfering with your day-to-day life, it might help to seek some professional support.
The following is a quick assessment to determine whether you have symptoms of depression. This questionnaire is the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Please note that no test or assessment is 100% accurate, and you are the best expert on how you are feeling. If you have concerns about yourself or a loved one, no matter the result of the assessment, please do not hesitate to seek help.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following:
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
4. Feeling tired or having little energy
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
5. Poor appetite or overeating
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
6. Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
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
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way
Not at all = 0
Several days = 1
More than half the days = 2
Nearly every day = 3
Please total your scores. If your total is 5 or above, you may be experiencing symptoms of depression. Our trained professionals can help you to determine what type of treatment might be helpful. Please call 949-8789 to book an intake appointment or click here to see our available workshops and group programmes. Please also check out the videos and infographics on our resources page for tips on how to care for yourself or a loved one.
Scoring Key – each item is scored 0, 1, 2, 3
Total score of 0-4 suggests absence of depression; 5-9 suggests mild depression; 10-14 suggests moderate depression; 15-19 suggests moderately severe depression; 20-27 suggests severe depression.
Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (1999). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) [Database record]. APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/10.1037/t06165-000