Test for Depression

This depression screening is the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), developed by Doctors Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues. The PHQ-9 assesses depression symptoms based on how a person describes the frequency with which they’ve been bothered by a series of problems in the last two weeks. 

Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

• Not at all
• Several days 
• More than half the days 
• Nearly every day 

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
3. Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
4. Feeling tired, or having little energy
5. Poor appetite, or overeating
6. Feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
7. Trouble concentrating on things such as reading the newspaper or watching tv
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
9. Thoughts you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way

If you noted any problems above, how difficult have they made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?
Not difficult at all    Somewhat difficult       Very difficult     Extremely difficult 

If you note that these issues are making your ability to connect with others and accomplish what is needed at home and work more difficult perhaps now is a good time to seek professional help.