How Do You Know if You Have Depression?

Author: ChristineSutherland
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Generally doctors and other health professionals aren't keen on patients' self testing for depression because the checklists can't possibly be thorough enough for accurate diagnosis. Not only can there be other reasons for the depression symptoms, but extreme scores can indicate other psychological problems quite apart from depression.

The gold standard for depression testing used to be the Beck Depression Inventory, named after Aaron T Beck, developer of cognitive behavior therapy, a therapy that is now under attack with claims it is no more effective than placebo.

A BETTER TEST FOR DEPRESSION

The Lifeworks Joy Inventory is a preferred test for depression because in addition to being highly accurate, it begins to move the client toward an expectation of good results from therapy. While the BDI was very negative (eg getting the client to rate the statement "I feel sad most of the time") the Lifeworks Joy Inventory has positive statements which the client is asked to rate (eg "I enjoy my sexuality").

Health practitioners and the general public can have confidence in the Lifeworks Joy Inventory because in every case to date it has matched well with the BDI and with other commonly-used scales (Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and the client's own Subjective Units of Discomfort Scale).

And unlike the BDI, the Lifeworks Joy Inventory was developed for sharing, and is therefore free of charge and may be freely distributed.

So if you believe you or a loved one may be suffering from depression, you'll find a link below to an interactive online test that will not only give you a depression rating and explain its meaning, but will also spell out what else you need to do in order to get a correct diagnosis.

One of the factors we address in the test results is that of extreme scoring. In either case, whether a score is extremely high or extremely low, other health problems quite apart from depression are also suggested.

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER YOUR TEST?

Regardless of your test results, if you suspect that you may be depressed, it's very important to make an appointment with your doctor so that he/she can ask the right questions to determine if there's a medical reason for your depression symptoms (such as an endocrine disorder), as well as checking exact symptoms in relation to digestion, sleep, skin and hair, sexual dysfunction, stress factors, and a range of other matters.

Once you've seen your doctor and can be confident that you have a correct diagnosis, it's then very easy to choose the right program that will get the results you want.

In following the advice of your health professional, I must nonetheless exhort you not to believe anyone who tells you that you have to learn to live with depression, or that it's difficult to treat. Quite the opposite is the case, as demonstrated by research world wide, and particularly Australian research. You can resolve depression very rapidly indeed, without medication.

Effective treatment must always involve careful investigation and moderation of 17 lifestyle factors that are known to cause depression or aid in the development of depression, and also the elimination of unconscious thinking patterns (thoughts and feelings) which serve to damp down normal brain function.

With a quality lifestyle and strong and healthy thoughts and feelings, the depression rapidly evaporates and the patient quickly moves into a more powerful and satisfying way of life.

About the Author

You might like to check the online, interactive test for depression and see your results and the meaning of your score range instantly. Make sure you pick up your free copy of the book "17 Solutions" once you've completed your depression test.