What does this tool help you learn?
This interactive tool can help you assess your symptoms and find out if
you might have
depression. It calculates how many common symptoms of
depression you have and-based on your answers-suggests where you might be on a
scale from not depressed to depressed.
Although this tool is not
for diagnosis, it may help you find out whether you should seek help from your
doctor.
PHQ-9
copyright 2005, Pfizer, permission granted. The PHQ-9 assessment is adapted
from PRIME MD TODAY and developed by RL Spitzer, JBW Williams, K Kroenke, et
al.
What does your score mean?
The more symptoms of
depression you have, the higher your score will be. Your score will appear as
one of the following:
- You are unlikely to have depression.
- You may have mild to moderate depression.
- You may
have moderate to severe depression.
- You may have severe
depression.
As with all screening tools, this tool gives you a place
to start. Keep in mind that a higher score does not necessarily mean that you
have depression. Also, a lower score does not always mean you are
depression-free. This tool can help you examine your feelings and think about
whether your symptoms might be symptoms of depression. But using this tool is
not a substitute for a thorough evaluation by your doctor. If you
are concerned about any of your symptoms, seek medical help.
What's next?
If your symptoms include plans or
thoughts about harming yourself or another person, detachment from reality
(psychosis), or excessive use of alcohol or drugs,
contact your doctor or local hospital for help right away.
Many people with depression delay
seeking medical advice and treatment because they believe depression is not
serious or they think they can get through it, or even beat it, on their own.
Sometimes people who are deeply depressed feel that nothing will help. But like
other major health problems, depression cannot be overcome without treatment.
In fact, untreated depression can get worse, cause other health problems, and
may last for years or even a lifetime. It can have a serious impact on both you
and the people you care about.
With treatment such as counseling
and medicines, the symptoms of even major depression may begin to improve in a
few weeks. The choice to seek evaluation and treatment is a very important
first step on the path to feeling better. For more information, see the topic
Depression.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAdam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerLisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry