In the modern world, the problem of depression is becoming increasingly relevant. Constant stresses, abnormal load, fatigue - all this gradually leads to the fact that the world around us ceases to please. At some stage, it becomes clear that such a state is not just a banal depression, but something more serious. It is for the diagnosis of the psychological state of a person that the questionnaire for major depression is used.
What is this questionnaire?
Of course, there are many ways to determine if a person is depressed. By the way, it is worth noting that under this term, specialists understand the decrease in both mental and motor activity, to which the general depressed state is added. That is, to say that a person is depressed only because he hasn’t been as cheerful lately as usual, at least incorrect from a medical point of view: a number of factors should be observed here.
The Major Depression Questionnaire is a self-assessment test proposed by the World Health Organization that determines if a test person is depressed. The Likert scale is usually used - the frequency of occurrence in a patient of the symptoms suggested in the questionnaire is estimated. This type of diagnosis is one of the most accurate, despite the fact that the test contains only twenty questions.
Beck Scale
Some experts do not use the major depression questionnaire very often. That this is far from the only diagnostic method has long been known. That is why many psychiatrists use an alternative method - the Beck scale - a series of statements to which several answers are offered. Based on what options the testee chooses, and assesses his psychological state. A relatively short period of time is analyzed - one to two weeks. Questions-statements relate to the patient’s condition, for example, whether his level of activity or appetite has changed, whether interest in previously beloved objects has remained, and so on.
Major Depression Questionnaire - A test performed in twenty minutes, maximum one hour. If the test person cannot cope with him, then this signals his worst depression.
Self-Assessment Depression Scale
So, as already mentioned, one of the most effective methods for diagnosing a disorder is the questionnaire for major depression. You can take this test both on the Internet and with a qualified specialist who can immediately prescribe treatment based on the results. Depression is not a condition that goes away by itself - you need professional help and a long time to completely overcome it.
But it is worth noting that the Beck scale is not the only way to determine whether a person has problems. There is such a test option as the self-assessment scale of depression, designed to more accurately diagnose depression and subdepression (its milder form). This questionnaire also focuses on the testee's physical well-being and also assesses the severity of depression, if any.
Ankylosing spondylitis
A more complex questionnaire for major depression, or rather, one of its many forms is an ankylosing spondylitis. It is much deeper than the two previous methods, but is used more often to monitor patients already diagnosed with a mental disorder. It is also noteworthy that Bekhterev aimed to identify hidden depression and neurosis, which significantly expanded the scope of his questionnaire. If the test person shows some disorder, then the origin of the disorder is revealed during the survey, which greatly facilitates the treatment. In the test, which is unusual, there are more than six dozen questions to which the test person answers “yes” or “no”, and this greatly increases the accuracy of the study.
Edinburgh Questionnaire
The standard Beck major depression questionnaire, combined with the self-assessment scale, allowed the creation of the Edinburgh questionnaire. It is aimed at identifying postpartum depression in women, as well as diagnosing psychological problems in the father of the child. The disadvantage of this testing is that it cannot always distinguish between depression and commonplace anxiety, which, of course, reduces its accuracy. However, against the background of other questionnaires for the diagnosis of depression, this one is quite specific in its purpose, which clearly gives it some advantages.
How to deal with depression?
After the questionnaire of major depression revealed the presence of a problem, it is worth considering how to deal with it. In the early stages of depression, with its mild degree, experts recommend drug-free treatment methods: walking in the fresh air, physical activity, monitoring diet and, of course, working with a psychotherapist. In more advanced cases, one will have to resort to the use of drugs that stimulate the production of serotonin, the hormone of happiness, however, over time, the body may become accustomed to stimulating this process and stop performing it without medication.
Conclusion
The main thing in depression is to diagnose it in time and start treatment. All problems can be overcome, sometimes it’s enough just to show that you can’t cope with them yourself. Life is beautiful, and this must always be remembered under any circumstances. And depression is not the place in it.