SUMMARY

Depression Test

Depression is one of the most prevalent and serious mental illnesses in the world today. Approximately
one in four women and one in eight men experience at least one bout of depression in their lifetime.
Depression is a biological illness, one that often has a devastating impact on behavior, thoughts and feelings.
Although depression can be triggered or worsened by specific events or problems as well as depressive
thought patterns and personality traits, medical research has shown that it occurs as a result of a chemical
imbalance in the brain. Almost every one of us has, at one point or another, experienced feelings of
unhappiness, "a blue mood" that could be associated with a disruptive life event - but true depression entails a
pervasive feeling of sadness that impairs our general functioning and lasts for more than two weeks.

This test assesses whether the diagnostic criteria for major depression is met, and evaluates depressive
thought patterns.

OVERALL RESULTS = 63%

You responded in a way that indicates moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Your results will tell
you whether you meet the criteria for a depressive illness diagnosis. In any case, it is strongly recommended
that you see your physician as soon as you can. Depression is treatable and the success rate is very high. You
may feel now that every day is a struggle, but things WILL get better. After some time, facing another day will
become easier and gradually, you will find joy again. Please, see a doctor; you really do not need to suffer this
way. Remember, depression is a medical problem and it is not ''just in your head”. It is not something you did,
you are not being punished, and it is not your fault. You don't deserve to suffer, no matter how badly you feel
about yourself right now. There is help, so please, go and get it.

Many of the people who suffer

from depression also suffer from
anxiety (and vice versa).
INTRODUCTION

Depression is one of the most prevalent and serious mental illnesses in the world today. Approximately one in
four women and one in eight men experience at least one bout of depression in their lifetime. Depression is a
biological illness, one that often has a devastating impact on behavior, thoughts and feelings. Although
depression can be triggered or worsened by specific events or problems, as well as depressive thought
patterns and personality traits, medical research has shown that it occurs as a result of a chemical imbalance
in the brain. Almost every one of us has, at one point or another, experienced feelings of unhappiness, "a blue
mood", that could be associated with a disruptive life event - but true depression entails a pervasive feeling of
sadness that impairs our general functioning and lasts for more than two weeks.

Some of the more common symptoms of depression are:

• Changes in sleep habits such as insomnia, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much.
• Changes in eating habits such as loss of appetite or weight gain.
• Decreased energy, feeling of fatigue.
• Restlessness and irritability.
• Difficulty in concentration, remembering; difficulty in making decisions.
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt or worthlessness.
• Persistent sad, anxious, or empty feelings.
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities, such as involvement with loved ones or hobbies.
• Thoughts of death or suicide.

Causes and Treatment of Depression

The neurotransmitters (naturally occurring chemical messengers that carry electrical signals in our
brain) serotonin and norepinephrine play a significant role in maintaining our mood. When these
neurotransmitters are in low levels, the symptoms of depression, as listed above, become clinically evident.

While depression can be considered a biological illness, there is little doubt that certain personality
traits, attitudes and ways of thinking about the world can contribute greatly to the development and
maintenance of depressive symptoms. This test not only assessed levels of depressive symptoms, but also
evaluated various other traits to identify whether a depressive cognitive style, personality, or attitudes are also
at work. The personality traits measured included Maladaptive Perfectionism and Rumination. The cognitive
variables measured the tendency to attribute failures and setbacks to internal, stable factors, as well as looking
for a tendency to attend to disheartening stimuli in the environment. Finally, the attitudinal measures assessed
concern about what other people think, as well as the tendency to over-dramatize negative events.

Depression can be treated, depending on the severity of the individual case, using a combination of medication
and therapy. Over the years, a wide range of antidepressant medications has become available. The oldest
ones are the series of tricyclic antidepressants and the newer ones consist of the SSRIs, Prozac, Paxil and
many others. Antidepressant medicines are non-addictive and safe if used as prescribed. Studies have shown
that 76% of patients with Major Depressive Disorder recover using antidepressants compared to only 18% on a
placebo. They help restore the balance of the neurotransmitters in the brain and thereby relieve or lessen the
symptoms of depression.

Unfortunately, the diagnosis of depression is often delayed, as well-meaning friends and family tell the
depressed individual to "just snap out of the mood". Many people still carry the misconception that depression
is a character flaw, a problem that happens because the individual is weak. While seeking therapy and the use
of anti-depressants is much more acceptable than it was a mere 10 years ago, sufferers still battle a societal
stigma that is not easy to shake. The most unfortunate result of this stigma is a hesitation to seek medical
treatment. With proper treatment, in fact, the feelings of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness can be
alleviated so sufferers can go on to live rich and fulfilling lives. Their chemical imbalances can be addressed
and they can learn ways to combat the negative thinking patterns associated with depression. The first step is
diagnosing the problem.

GRAPHS

Overall results = 63%

Depressive Symptoms 63%
Depressed Mood 80%
Loss of Interest 55%
Change in Appetite or Weight 25%
Sleep Disturbance 100%
Psychomotor Symptoms 74%
Loss of Energy 65%
Guilt and Shame 72%
Concentration Problems 65%
Thoughts of Death or Suicide 15%

Depressive Mindset 55%

Maladaptive Perfectionism 56%
Rumination 55%
Cognitive Variables 65%
Internal Attribution of Failure 62%
Attentional Bias 54%
Catastrophic Thinking Patterns 43%
Worry about Judgment of Others 59%
Rigid Mindset 45%
 DETAILED RESULTS

Overall level of depression

Overall results (score 63)

You responded in a way that indicates moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Your results will tell you
whether you meet the criteria for a depressive illness diagnosis. In any case, it is strongly recommended that
you see your physician as soon as you can. Depression is treatable and the success rate is very high. You may
feel now that every day is a struggle, but things WILL get better. After some time, facing another day will
become easier and gradually, you will find joy again. Please, see a doctor; you really do not need to suffer this
way. Remember, depression is a medical problem and it is not ''just in your head”. It is not something you did,
you are not being punished, and it is not your fault. You don't deserve to suffer, no matter how badly you feel
about yourself right now. There is help, so please, go and get it.

Depressive Symptoms (score 63)

There is some indication that you might be clinically depressed. You have depressive symptoms, either many
of moderate intensity, or several severe ones. Review carefully the symptoms listed below that you currently
possess and consult a physician promptly to verify their seriousness.

• Symptom: Generally depressed mood

• Symptom: Loss of interest in enjoyable activities and lack of pleasure
• Symptom: Significant changes in appetite; weight loss or weight gain
• Symptom: Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Symptom: Psychomotor symptoms (moving slower than usual or behaving in an agitated
manner)
• Symptom: Loss of or significant decrease in energy; persistent fatigue
• Symptom: Exaggerated feelings of guilt, shame or embarrassment
• Symptom: Loss of or significant decrease in ability to concentrate

• No thoughts of death or suicidal ideation

 Assesses whether
your thinking style,
attitudes or Depressive Mindset (score 55)
personality make you
vulnerable to It appears that in some areas, your personality, attitudes, and thinking style protect
depression. you against depression, while in others this is not the case. Researchers have noted
that depressed individuals tend to be different from non-depressed individuals in a
variety of areas. These include their thinking patterns, their personality, and their
attitudes about the world. You should read the specific scale results to find out about your problem areas.
When faced with the same situation as a person with a very depressive mindset, you are less likely to become
depressed, although you are somewhat vulnerable.

Maladaptive Perfectionism (score 56)

This scale assesses
the extent to which
You had a medium score on Maladaptive Perfectionism. This indicates that when you
you are hard on
fail to achieve what you set out to do, you likely get mad at yourself, but to a healthy
yourself when your
extent. This is a good approach because you’re learning from your mistakes so that
standards are not
you improve in the future, but are still leaving your self-esteem intact. People who
met.
berate themselves when they fail to reach goals are prone to depression. Such a
tendency can be very damaging to one’s self-esteem.

Rumination (score 55)

Measures the extent

You are somewhat prone to rumination, which means that although you do think
to which you tend to
about problems in your life, you don’t do so excessively. There may be some issues
over-think issues you
that you’ll dwell on occasionally, but in general you are able to let others go. People
are experiencing in
who ruminate are vulnerable to depression because they cannot allow themselves a
your life.
minute of peace. As a result, their problems tend to be magnified by the extra thought
put into them.
Cognitive Variables (score 65)
Assesses extent to

You tend to believe that many failures, setbacks and difficult life challenges are stable, which you attribute

meaning that they will not get better. Perhaps you lack confidence in your ability to failures and setbacks

alter the outcome of a situation, or feel that other factors have control over whether to stable,

things will improve. Remember that if you believe that there is room for unchanging, and

improvement, even the most upsetting situation can be tolerated. Otherwise, you will uncontrollable

begin to lose hope. factors.

Internal Attribution of Failure (score 62)

Assesses whether
You often attribute failures, setbacks and difficult life situations to internal factors,
you tend to blame
meaning that you believe they are caused by factors within your control – factors that
yourself for problems
are your fault. This can be a really unhealthy way of thinking about failures and
or failures you have
problems in your life. When you blame yourself for everything it can really take a toll
experienced, or tend
on your self-esteem. If you believe you are fundamentally incapable of dealing with
to blame external
issues, you may start to feel hopeless and helpless, which is a key cause of
factors.
depression.

Attentional Bias (score 54) Assesses whether

you tend to notice
Depressed individuals tend to be more sensitive to negative information in their
and pay attention to
environment. They manage to pick out the one unhappy face in a crowd, or notice the
negative information
negative critiques and ignore the positive. You appear to have a slight tendency to
in your environment
think this way. In certain areas of your life or when you are feeling down, you tend
more than you do
to hone in on negative information, while other times you pick out the positive.
positive information.
Remember that by focusing consistently on the positive stimuli around you, you can
help protect yourself from depression. When you center your attention on negative input, you serve to confirm
any pessimistic thoughts and opinions you may have about yourself.
 Evaluates whether
Catastrophic Thinking Patterns (score 43)
you tend to be overly

Sometimes, you take negative experiences or news at face value, while other times dramatic about things

you tend to believe that the consequences of such events are more catastrophic than that happen in your

the really are. When you begin to dramatize an event (e.g. you start to imagine all the life, thinking that the

other possible things that can go wrong) you are wasting more energy on that consequences will be

negative experience than is necessary. People with a depressive mindset tend to more catastrophic

believe that when something bad happens, the consequences will be severe and than is necessarily

far-reaching. They react more strongly to such situations as a result. If you try to true.

adopt a more “That’s life, but I’ll get over it” attitude, you may be able to recover more quickly from negative
experiences.

Worry about Judgment of Others (score 59)

You worry somewhat about what people will think of you when things go wrong in Measures whether
your life, but not excessively. Perhaps you are sensitive in some areas or feel more you worry
vulnerable to social scrutiny on some days than others. When you do feel concerned, excessively about
you may believe that others take pleasure in your problems, that they feel sorry for being judged by
you, or that they are otherwise judgmental of you. Unfortunately, this attitude can lead others.
you to feel worse about your problems than you need to. It also means that you may be less likely to seek
comfort from others when you are in emotional pain.

Rigid Mindset (score 45) Assesses whether

you have a rigid
You appear to have a moderately flexible mindset, but there are some areas and
mindset or tend to be
issues where you’re thinking is more black and white. Being flexible can help you
a more flexible
maintain a positive attitude and allow you to adjust when things don’t go as
person.
planned. People who refuse to bend have a lot of difficulty adjusting when their
expectations are not met.
 STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
The following is a summarized version of your results, categorized as Strengths, Potential Strengths, and
Limitations.
According to Australian Government statistics,
Strengths everyone will at some time in their life be affected by
·No strengths detected depression -- their own or someone else's.
Potential Strengths
·Your thinking style, attitudes, and personality likely leave you somewhat vulnerable to depression
·You are sometimes hard on yourself when your goals are not met
·You sometimes over-think issues in your life
·You sometimes focus in on the positive but may at times also notice the negative things around you
·You sometimes blow negative experiences out of proportion
·You sometimes worry about what others will think when things go wrong in your life
·You have a fairly flexible mindset and are sometimes able to adjust when things do not turn out as expected
Limitations
·You experience many symptoms of depression
·You often attribute failures and setbacks to permanent, uncontrollable factors
·You very often blame yourself when you experience failures and setbacks

Advice and tips

Depressive Mindset

• Look to the future. Many problems, especially major upsets such as job loss, the end of a relationship, or
the death of a family member, can seem insurmountable when immersed in the problem. Remember though
that people can, and do, recover from even the most extreme circumstances. If you find yourself falling into a
chasm of despair, remember that although you may never forget what happened, your life will go on.

• Learn the consequences of how you attribute failures in your life. Stable attributions, (blaming
permanent and unchangeable factors for one’s problems) can lead to hopelessness. After all, if the
circumstances leading to the disappointments are set in stone, how can you hope to make any headway
against them? Internal attributions of failures are unhealthy as well, as they can chip away at self-esteem,
especially if one blames oneself for many of life’s problems. Therefore the healthiest way to look at upsetting
circumstances is to look for unstable, external factors. Just be sure to take responsibility when it is called for.

• Keep things in perspective when feeling blue.Think back to other times that you felt this down - did they
always warrant such a strong reaction? This is not to beat yourself up about the past, but to realize that you
have and can again survive situations that you thought were too much to handle.

• Look for alternative explanations for why things went wrong. Instead of telling yourself it was your fault,
that people just don’t like you, or finding some other negative explanation, try to look for other reasons.
Sometimes, our life circumstances get in the way of our goals – it happens to everyone. And sometimes,
people are just having a bad day and do not behave as enthusiastically as they normally do. Learn not to take
things personally and you will be released from some very common thought patterns associated with
depression.

• Learn to enjoy the process rather than only the final product. For those individuals who tend to beat
themselves up if they don’t get first place, a promotion, or achieve other goals, the outcome of the process is
what is most important. If you learn to enjoy the whole progression, and appreciate the small goals you HAVE
reached along the way instead of what you didn’t achieve, you will likely be more satisfied with yourself.

• Get your mind off your problems. If you over-think problems in your life, they begin to crowd out all of the
good things that are going on. Give issues the thought they deserve, but allow yourself time to have fun, read a
book you’ve been meaning to read, or pursue an active activity. It may take conscious effort not to think about
a problem (pinch yourself when it comes up, or immediately think about something else more enjoyable) but
the effort will help remind you of the good things going on in your life.

• Look for the supportive faces in a crowd. When you are socializing, working or performing in front of a
group, there will almost always be SOMEONE with an unhappy expression on his or her face. A person with a
depressed mindset will often focus in on or be extremely sensitive to criticism, critical facial expressions, or
subtle verbal digs. Individuals who don’t have such a mindset are more likely to either not notice such things,
or will deliberately choose to focus on the positive. It is much healthier to focus on the enthusiastic reactions of
those around you.

• Think about seeking cognitive therapy. Even if a person with a depressive mindset doesn’t meet the DSM
– IV criteria for depression, he or she can likely benefit from cognitive therapy to help battle against depressive
thoughts. Therapists using this technique teach their clients how to identify their particular depressive thoughts,
and then provide methods to fight against them. It really is possible to change the way we think for the better.

• Be on the lookout for warning signs of black and white, absolutist thinking. Look out for thoughts in
your head like “I always perform poorly on important projects at work”, or “I will never get over this break-up”,
or “Now that the first night of my vacation went poorly, the whole trip is ruined”. Such thoughts can lead to
generalizing one negative experience to other situations or the same situation in the future. Like a house of
cards, for depressive thinkers using this style, their whole world can crumble when one thing goes wrong.