People often confuse sadness with depression. For example, not getting a job you applied for or going through a failed relationship can cause an extended period of sadness. However, depression is a chronic mental health disorder characterized as a mood disorder that causes consistent feelings of sadness and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed.
Depression goes beyond chronic sadness. Depressive symptoms can be debilitating for people who have depression and those symptoms can interfere with a person’s daily life. There are several types of depression, including:
- Major depression
- Persistent depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Psychotic depression
- Postpartum depression
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Situational depression
- Atypical depression
In 2016, studies showed that depression affects 16.2 million (6.7 percent) Americans. Of that 16.2 million, 44 percent of people with depression received treatment from medical professionals and medication, while 37 percent of people did not get treatment for their depression. If you are living with depression and the disorder remains untreated, co-occurring disorders like other mental health disorders and substance use disorders can develop. According to a report by the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, one in three adults with alcohol or drug addictions have a depressive disorder.
The development of co-occurring disorders is sometimes a result of depression going untreated, so it’s important to seek treatment for depression. The first step toward seeking treatment is to recognize if your symptoms could be depressive symptoms.
Depression Quiz
This confidential depression quiz can help you evaluate your symptoms and be used as a guide to help you recognize if you have symptoms of depressive disorder.
Please note that this self-assessment cannot substitute for an official, clinical diagnosis of depression. Only a medical professional can diagnose you with a mental health disorder like depression. To determine whether you need depression treatment, discuss your results with a mental health professional.
The questions for this self-assessment are based on the diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5.
Please answer “yes” or “no” for each question.
