Depressed?

Confidential Depression Screening

Please check a response for each item that best describes how you have felt the past seven days.

1.  Falling Asleep:
    __(0) I never take longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep
    __(1) I take at least 30 minutes to fall asleep, less than half the time
    __(2) I take at least 30 minutes to fall asleep, more than half the time
    __(3) I take at least 60 minutes to fall asleep, more than half the time
 
2.  Sleep During the Night:
    __(0) I do not wake up at night
    __(1) I have a restless, light sleep with a few brief awakenings each night
    __(2) I wake up at least once a night, but I go back to sleep easily
    __(3) I awaken more than once a night and stay awake for 20 minutes or more, more than half the time
 
3.  Waking Up Too Early:
    __(0) Most of the time, I awaken no more than 30 minutes before I need to get up
    __(1) More than half the time, I awaken more than 30 minutes before I need to get up
    __(2) I almost always awaken at least one hour or so before I need to, but I go back to sleep eventually
    __(3) I awaken at least one hour before I need to, and can’t go back to sleep
 
4.  Sleeping Too Much:
    __(0) I sleep no longer than 7-8 hours/night, without napping during the day
    __(1) I sleep no longer than 10 hours in a 24 hour period including naps
    __(2) I sleep no longer than 12 hours in a 24-hour period including naps
    __(3) I sleep longer than 12 hours in a 24-hour period including naps
 
5.  Feeling Sad:
    __(0) I do not feel sad
    __(1) I feel sad less than half the time
    __(2) I feel sad more than half the time
    __(3) I feel sad nearly all the time
 
6.  Decreased Appetite:
    __(0) My usual appetite has not decreased
    __(1) I eat somewhat less often or lesser amounts of food than usual
    __(2) I eat much less than usual and only with personal effort
    __(3) I rarely eat in a 24-hour period, only with extreme personal effort or when others persuade me
 
7.  Increased Appetite:
    __(0) My usual appetite has not increased
    __(1) I feel a need to eat more frequently than usual
    __(2) I regularly eat more often and/or greater amounts of food than usual
    __(3) I feel driven to overeat both at mealtime and between meals
 
8.  Decreased Weight (Within the Last Two Weeks):
    __(0) My weight has not decreased
    __(1) I feel as if I’ve had a slight weight loss
    __(2) I have lost 2 pounds or more
    __(3) I have lost 5 pounds or more
 
9.  Increased Weight (Within the Last Two Weeks):
    __(0) My weight has not increased
    __(1) I feel as if I’ve had a slight weight gain
    __(2) I have gained 2 pounds or more
    __(3) I have gained 5 pounds or more
 
10. Concentration/Decision Making:
    __(0) There is no change in my usual capacity to concentrate or make decisions
    __(1) I occasionally feel indecisive or find that my attention wanders
    __(2) Most of the time, I struggle to focus my attention or to make decisions
    __(3) I cannot concentrate well enough to read or cannot make even minor decisions
 
11. View of Myself:
    __(0) I see myself as equally worthwhile and deserving as other people
    __(1) I am more self-blaming than usual
    __(2) I largely believe that I cause problems for others
    __(3) I think almost constantly about major and minor defects in myself
 
12. Thoughts of Death or Suicide:
    __(0) I do not think of suicide or death
    __(1) I feel that life is empty or wonder if it’s worth living
    __(2) I think of suicide or death several times a week for several minutes
    __(3) I think of suicide or death several times a day in some detail, or have actually tried to take my life
 
13. General Interest:
    __(0) There is no change from usual in how interested I am in other people or activities
    __(1) I notice that I am less interested in people or activities
    __(2) I find I have interest in only one or two of my formerly pursued activities
    __(3) I have virtually no interest in formerly pursued activities
 
14. Energy Level:
    __(0) There is no change in my usual level of energy
    __(1) I get tired more easily than usual
    __(2) I have to make a big effort to start or finish my usual daily activities
    __(3) I really cannot carry out most of my usual daily activities because I just don’t have the energy
 
15. Feeling slowed down:
    __(0) I think, speak, and move at my usual rate of speed
    __(1) I find that my thinking is slowed down or my voice sounds dull or flat
    __(2) It takes me several seconds to respond to most questions and I’m sure my thinking is slowed
    __(3) I am often unable to respond to questions without extreme effort
 
16. Feeling Restless:
    __(0) I do not feel restless
    __(1) I’m often fidgety, wringing my hands, or need to shift how I am sitting
    __(2) I have impulses to move about and am quite restless
    __(3) At times, I am unable to stay seated and need to pace around
 

Scoring & Assessment

Add up the numbers next to the lines you checked.

If your score is below 9, your answers do not indicate depression. However, if you have concerns, discuss your concerns with your doctor or a mental health professional.

If your score is between 9 and 24, your answers indicate the possibility of mild depression. These symptoms may go away over time, however talking with a therapist or counselor may be helpful. If you have felt this way for more than two weeks, or if these symptoms are interfering with your life, discuss your concerns with your doctor or a mental health professional.

If your score is above 24, your answers indicate the possibility of depression. We encourage you to discuss these results with your health care provider since only a qualified professional can diagnosis depression. Treatment works. You can feel better.

And if you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide, contact a health care professional, clergy member, loved one, friend, crisis line such as 1-800-SUICIDE, or call 911 immediately.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you are struggling with depression, remember that Jesus said:
    The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
         for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
    He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
        that the blind will see,
    that the oppressed will be set free,
        and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. (Luke 4:18-19)

There is hope ~ Jesus came to set the oppressed free!

 

Hold On

There’s always always always hope.
Just reach for Me, your safety rope.
When storms assail you, trust you’ll float,
for by My strength, I’ll help you cope.

The rope thrown off the boat for you
is never frayed. I’ll see you through.
In Me, old hope is made brand new.
Hope longs to stay attached to you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This screening was developed from the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) which is in the public domain and may be used without permission.