It's not surprising that most doctors and psychologists are wary of clients' self testing for problems such as depression. Not only is a simple "tick the box" test inadequate for diagnosis simply because other factors must also be investigated, but also because high or low scores (especially in the extremes) can indicate problems altogether different from depression.
Up until now the most commonly-used test for depression has been the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), developed by Aaron T Beck many years ago. That test had to be paid for each time it was used, wasn't freely available to the general public, and was quite negatively focussed.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST TO MEASURE DEPRESSION SCORES
These days we have the Lifeworks Joy Inventory, developed by The Lifeworks Group Pty Ltd in Perth, Western Australia. It's a very accurate test, and a side benefit is that it's positively oriented, so that the act of taking the test begins to prepare the client to move forward.
The accuracy of the Lifeworks Joy Inventory has been thoroughly tested and mirrors results from other similar depression measurement techniques (such as the MADRS and the client's own SUDS).
As well as being highly accurate, the Lifeworks Joy Inventory has another advantage: it is completely free to use and may be distributed freely as well. Designed as a gift to the field of mental health, it was hoped that more people would then benefit from free and easy access to quality testing.
You can find a link below in order to grab a copy of the test, and or even take the test online.
One of the factors we address in the test results is that of extreme scoring. In either case, whether a score is extremely high or extremely low, other health problems quite apart from depression are also suggested.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER YOUR TEST?
Despite your suspecting that you may have depression, it's possible your test results show as "normal ups and downs of life". If that's the case for you, it's still essential that you see your doctor so that he/she can do a thorough physical exam and check to see that your lifestyle is supporting your optimum physical and mental health.
Once you have a proper diagnosis of depression you can embark on treatment knowing that any other medical issues have also been identified and will also be treated.
Please don't believe any health professional or web site which tells you that depression in incurable, or takes a long time to cure, or that you'll have to learn to live with it. All of those opinions have been well and truly discredited thanks to Australian research which shows depression can usually be completely cured within days and without drugs.
While it's possible to get a complete cure for depression in just days, in order to achieve that it's essential to attend to the 17 lifestyle factors that we know can create or maintain depression, as well as the thinking styles that become a habit when the person has been depressed for a while. Using modern therapy techniques, even those can be resolved very rapidly, often in just minutes.
If you're eating food that sustains you properly, if you're getting out and about and engaging with people whom you like and respect, if you're active through the day, sleeping well at night, contented in your relationships, and moving toward goals that are meaningful for you, then you can say goodbye to depression and hello to a rich and satifying life. That is the goal of therapy.
You might like to check the online, interactive test for depression and see your results and the meaning of your score instantly. Make sure you pick up your free copy of the book "17 Solutions" once you've completed your depression test.