General
There are numerous tests, especially on the Internet, which can be performed anonymously and quickly. You can also get them at the appropriate institutions or from your doctor. Mostly they do not consist of many questions.
There are usually between 10 and 20 questions. These are rather general and do not go into detail. There is hardly any other information required such as age or gender.
You have the possibility to choose between 4 or 5 different answers. From “never” to “always” to choose. As an example a question: Do you feel in a good mood in the morning? and then you have answer possibilities like: most/always, often, sometimes, rarely/never. < The answer possibilities are only quite rough and general, so you should take the test result as a guideline, but nevertheless a visit to the doctor is very important if there is a suspicion that you are suffering from depression.
Tests for different groups of people
Depression is a serious illness and not at all uncommon in children and adolescents. Therefore, the diagnosis of depression should always be made by a psychologist or psychiatrist specialising in children and adolescents. However, it can help to use tests from the internet to get a rough assessment of the situation and to find the way to a doctor.
The following questions are important: Is the child often sad or in a bad mood? How often does the child laugh? Is the child often tired and listless?
Are there any sleep problems? Is the child more withdrawn and neglects hobbies and other interests that he/she has enjoyed in the past? Are there feelings of guilt, inferiority or feelings of hopelessness and indifference?
Are there difficulties in concentration? Does the child have thoughts of hurting himself or even taking his own life? Children who do not yet go to school are often noticed by the fact that they are apathetic and have little joy in playing, especially with other children.
They also show a change in eating habits and sleep disorders. This often makes the child very irritable and tearful. In addition, small children show increased anxiety.
School children, on the other hand, tend to have concentration problems at school and often have psychomotor inhibition, i.e. a slowing down of movement or speech. In addition, loss of appetite, insomnia and anxiety are usually observed. From school age on, children with severe depression can also have suicidal thoughts.
Especially in adolescence it can be difficult to distinguish normal puberty from depression. In general, there may be sleeping problems, loss of appetite and the associated weight loss, but also social withdrawal and performance disorders. Reduced self-confidence and anxiety as well as frequent physical ailments such as headaches can continue to be a signpost.
- Is the child often sad or in a bad mood? How often does the child laugh? – Is there frequent tiredness and listlessness?
Are there any sleep problems? – Is the child more withdrawn and neglects hobbies and other interests that he/she has enjoyed in the past? – Are there feelings of guilt, inferiority or feelings of hopelessness and indifference?
- Are there difficulties in concentration? – Does the child have thoughts of hurting himself or even taking his own life? A special test for pregnancy depression has not yet been developed.
However, as the symptoms are similar to those of people without pregnancy, tests for normal depression can be used. Basically, pregnancy depression is not uncommon and has its origins both in a genetic predisposition and in the new challenge for the next stage of life as a mother. Frequent signs are, for example, negative thoughts and low moods, which can be accompanied by a lack of drive, concentration problems, sleeping problems up to states of anxiety or suicidal thoughts.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) exists for postpartum depression. This involves 10 questions to assess the ability to feel joy, feelings of guilt, anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, sleep problems and suicidal thoughts. From a score of 10 points or more, or if suicidal thoughts are indicated, a doctor should always be consulted. If pregnancy or postpartum depression is suspected, a gynaecologist or psychotherapist should always be consulted.
All articles in this series: