Depression Self-Test

Mood Disorders Research

Early Intervention & Prevention

A depressive disorder is a whole-body illness that involves the way we think, feel, and behave and can even affect our physical health. While occasionally experiencing a “blue” mood or feelings of unhappiness is not an indication of a depressive disorder, it is important to understand that people who do meet the criteria for a depressive illness most often cannot get better on their own.

Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or even years. During any one-year period, nearly 19 million American adults suffer from a depressive illness. Appropriate treatment, however, can help people who suffer from depression achieve partial or total remission in nearly 80% of cases.

Nearly 20 million Americans experience depression, but many will never seek treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The Depression Self-Rating Test is a simple, 16-question quiz to help you identify common symptoms of depression and their severity.

Depression is more than just feeling down: it is a real medical condition that can be effectively treated.

Mood Disorders Research

Depression Self-Rating Test

Instructions: Write down one response to each item that best describes you for the past 7 days. After you have answered each question, tally the numbers from your notes to determine your depression score. The information below the form will help you understand your score and recommend follow-up actions for you to consider.

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    Understanding Your Depression Score

    The score on the Depression Self-Rating Test ranges from 0 to 27 and breaks down according to the following criteria:

    • Normal 0–5
    • Mild 6–10
    • Moderate 11–15
    • Severe 16–20
    • Very Severe 21

    If your depression score is 9 or greater, you may qualify to participate in one of the current studies being conducted at the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care. If you'd like to participate in a research study, contact us at Email or by calling 214-648-HELP (214-648-4357).

    Reminder:
    Keep in mind that your depression rating does not represent a formal diagnosis of depression. Instead, your rating indicates that you have some of the common symptoms associated with depression and, therefore, may have the illness. If you have answered all the questions as honestly as possible and you feel that the results of the test are accurate, you should consult a health care professional to obtain a formal diagnosis of depression if so indicated.

    Note: The above cutoff points are based largely on clinical judgment rather than on empirical data.

    Copyright 2000. A. John Rush, M.D. Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (Self-Report) (QIDS-SR). Used with permission.

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    For more than two decades, Dr. Madhukar Trivedi and his colleagues at UT Southwestern have conducted cutting-edge research to improve the treatment of depression. Our focus is on transforming the diagnosis and treatment of depression with a particular emphasis on developing an empirical basis for improving treatment.