The Tests: How to Do It: Place a cross “x” in front of (or at the end if you prefer) the one sentence in each group that most nearly applies to you. If more than one statement seems to apply then choose the statement with the highest number in front of it. Then save your efforts for later reference.

Scoring: Now add up the numbers in front of all the sentences you crossed as applying to you. If you were to put a cross in front of the 4th sentence, i.e. statement number “3” in each of the 16 groups then your total score would be 3 x 16 = 48.

(1)
0. I don’t feel sad.
1. I feel sad more often than I used to.
2. I am sad all the time and can’t snap out of it.
3. I am so sad it is painful.

(2) 0. I don’t feel I’m a failure.
1. I’ve failed more than most people.
2. I have never succeeded at anything that’s worth much really.
3. I’m a total failure as a human being.

(3)
0. I’m not suffering a sense of guilt.
1. I feel unworthy most of the time.
2. I feel guilty or unworthy most of the time.
3. To be honest I’m a bad worthless person.

(4)
0. The future looks OK, reasonably “rosy”.
1. The future looks a bit daunting.
2. I don’t have much, to look forward to & my problems seem hopeless.
3. I’m afraid the future looks totally hopeless, there’s nothing to look forward to.

(5)
0. I’m reasonably satisfied with my life.
1. I’m bored just about all the time.
2. I’ve lost interest in doing most of the things that used to give me pleasure.
3. I’m dissatisfied with everything.

(6)
0. I’m not being punished.
1. I feel something bad might happen to me.
2. I feel I will be punished. 3. I deserve punishment.

(7)
0. I have no thoughts of harming myself.
1. I think of harming myself but wouldn’t do it.
2. It would be better if I were dead.
3. I would kill myself if I could.

(8)
0. I can make decisions OK.
1. I put off making decisions.
2. Decisions give me great difficulty.
3. I just can’t make decisions!

(9)
0. I don’t cry more than anyone else.
1. I cry more nowadays than earlier in my life.
2. I cry all the time.
3. I can’t cry anymore.

(10)
0. I am just as interested in socialising as ever.
1. I’m noticeably less interested in other people than I was.
2. I’ve lost most of my feeling for and interest in other people.
3. I’ve lost all my concern for other people and honestly don’t care about them.

(11)
0. With regard to work I’m as productive as ever.
1. It’s hard to get started on work.
2. I have to push myself hard to do anything.
3. I can’t get any work done at all.

(12)
0. I just as interested in sex as ever.
1. I’m not as interested in sex as I was.
2. I’m much less interested in sex than I was.
3. I’ve lost interest in sex totally.

(13)
0. I sleep OK.
1. I awaken tired in the morning.
2. I either have trouble getting to sleep or I awaken too early and can’t get back to sleep.
3. I wake up hours too early. I’m getting a few hours sleep if I’m lucky.(or: I sleep too much, I seem to virtually live in bed)

(14)
0. My appetite is normal.
1. My appetite is not as keen as it used to be.
2. My appetite is much less strong than it was.
3. I simply have lost interest in food. I don’t feel any appetite.

(15)
0. My health is normal.
1. I have some bodily concerns (eg: aches, pains, constipation, upset stomach, cramps)
2. My health problems are taking up a lot of my attention.
3. My various health or body problems are now absorbing my attention almost totally.

(16) 0. My general intellectual ability is about as good as ever.
1. I can’t focus my attention as well as I used to. I think my memory has deteriorated.
2. My memory and ability to focus attention and solve problems have severely deteriorated.
3. My memory and intellect are “shot to pieces” and I cannot focus my attention, or think clearly, or rely on my memory.

The Meaning of Your Score:
0 – 1 You aren’t depressed!
2 – 3 Possibly very mild depression.
4 - 10 Mild to Moderate.
11 or Higher: Possibly serious and seeking professional help
for a further, more detailed and thorough assessment is recommended.

Polishing the Sun: A self directed treatment program for depression.

IMPORTANT: Things to consider: A high score could be caused by factors that do not make up ordinary clinical depression. These things include: Medication you are taking, recreational drugs you are taking, health problems or disease with which you have been formally diagnosed, and the effects of advanced age. Further, your high score could be uncharacteristically high as a result of a cataclysmic event in your life such as bereavement, divorce or separation, insolvency, diagnosed very serious illness in yourself or family, or other catastrophe suffered such as a car smash or other trauma, or the loss of your home in a fire etc. No matter what is causing your depression, professional intervention could be strongly recommended. If there is doubt in your mind then your GP is a safe starting point.

If you believe you are depressed it is a good idea to get a general health check-up to satisfy yourself that what you are experiencing as depression is not a secondary response to some other underlying medical condition.

Here is are 2 short tests which can help detect "clinical depression,
i.e. serious depression.

A.
1. (a)Do you get relief from talking a lot about your problems? Or (b) have you become uncommunicative and say very little about anything at all?
2. (a)Do you get relief and perk up when friends visit? Or (b) would you rather your friends stayed away?
3. (a)Do you attribute your depression to the ill-will, hostility or incompetence of others with whom you are currently involved in your work or personal life? (b)Or do you blame yourself almost entirely and think badly of yourself?

If you answered “yes” to the second part (the “b”s) of these 3 questions then you might have very serious depression and should go see your doctor as soon as possible. If you said “yes” to the first part of these 3 questions or felt that neither part applied to you then you may have what used to be called "neurotic depression" and have a high chance of being helped by the methods in this program right now.

Polishing the Sun: A self directed treatment program for depression.

B.
This even simpler test can give you a clues as to whether or not you need
help to deal with depression:

1. Have you been feeling sad or depressed virtually all of each day for at least 2 weeks?
2. Have you lost interest in the things that once interested you and in fact have lost interest in just about everything?

If you answered “yes” to both of these questions then although the self help program may have a high chance of helping you, it is nevertheless very possible you suffer a major depressive illness and should consider seeing a mental health professional for further assessment.
You can call me if you wish: Ph.(08)8339 5465, (+61 8 8339 5465) but if you do not live in Australia please email me first to arrange a time at victorcdbarnes@yahoo.com (as I have to sleep sometime!). For access to the $10.00 BANISH DEPRESSION SELF HELP PROGRAM: email: victorcdbarnes@yahoo.com

Polishing the Sun: A self directed treatment program for depression.

Freeing yourself of depression equates to a surge of energy and hopefulness, a new joi de vie. I wish you well.
BACK TO HOME