Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders around the world. It is not just a 'bad mood', but a serious illness that affects emotions, thinking and physical health. Do you often feel depressed, lose interest in things, or even feel hopeless about life? This comprehensive guide will help you understand the definition, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and coping strategies of depression.
What is depression? (Medical definition + WHO data)
Depressive Disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by persistent depression. It is accompanied by slow thinking, decreased interest, and weakened will activity. In severe cases, people may have a tendency to commit suicide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out that more than 3.8% of the world's population suffers from depression, among which women, the elderly and adolescents are at high risk groups. Severe depression is one of the main causes of disability worldwide.
The main symptoms of depression (three aspects: emotion, somatosy, and cognition)
Depression is not a single manifestation, it mainly involves symptoms in three dimensions:
💔 Emotional symptoms
- Continuous depression, sadness, irritability
- Loss of interest in things that were originally interested in
- Feeling empty, helpless, guilty or worthless
🩺 Symptoms of somatogenesis
- Sleep disorders (insomnia or lethargy)
- Changes in appetite, significant increase or decrease in weight
- Physical fatigue and fatigue are often accompanied by unknown pain
🧠 Cognitive symptoms
- Difficult to concentrate and difficult to make decisions
- Lack of hope for the future
- Suicide thoughts or behaviors
Causes of depression: the combined effect of physiological, psychological and social factors
The occurrence of depression is usually the result of a combination of factors:
- Physiological factors : imbalance of brain neurotransmitters (such as 5-HT, norepinephrine), genetic susceptibility
- Psychological factors : childhood trauma, personality traits (such as self-negation, introversion, perfectionism)
- Social factors : unemployment, interpersonal conflict, stressful events, loneliness, domestic violence, etc.
How to tell if you suffer from depression?
If you have continued to experience any 5 of the following symptoms in the past two weeks and have affected your daily life, it is recommended to seek a psychological assessment as soon as possible:
- Continuously depressed
- Reduced interest
- Significant changes in appetite or weight
- Sleep problems
- Psychomotor hysteresis or excitement
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Difficult to concentrate or indecisive
- Suicide ideation or behavior
👉 The most effective method is to use scientific scales for self-testing and preliminary screening.
Collection of online self-test tools for depression (free)
PsycTest Quiz provides you with scientific and comprehensive free online self-test tools for depression , including international standard scales and featured screening:
✅ General Depression Scale
- Depression Self-assessment Test: Understanding Your Mental Health Status
- PHQ-9 Depression Self-test Table
- Quick Self-evaluation Scale of Depression Symptoms QIDS-SR16
- SDS Depression Self-evaluation Scale
- Baker Depression Scale BDI-IA / BDI-SF , BDI-SF
- Hamilton Depression Scale HAMD
- Burns Depression List BDC
🎭 Special population screening
- GDS for the Elderly Depression Scale
- Children's Depression Disorder Scale DSRS-C
- Mental Health Survey for Children and Adolescents MHS-CA
🌈 Derivative related tests
- Do you have depression in your smile?
- Are you suffering from depression?
- Emotional Self-rated DASS-21
- Psychological stress test
- Potential sadness test
- Mood Thermometer BSRS-5
- Bipolar Disorder - Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) Online Test | Free
- ADHD Attention Deficit ADHD ASRS Adult Self-Assessment Scale Free Online Test
- Self-evaluation of PTSD symptoms: PTSD online assessment
- Mental Health Survey Scale for Children and Adolescents (MHS-CA) Online Test
- Self-test of flattery personality: Test your flattery health index (30 questions)
- SCL-90 Symptom Self-evaluation Scale
- Free test of SAS anxiety self-rated scale
👉 For more tests, please visit the official website of PsycTest Quiz .
Depression vs Depression vs Depression: Distinction analysis
| the term | definition | Severity | Is intervention required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (medical disorders) | Long-term, severe emotional disorders | high | ✅ Highly recommended |
| Depression (emotional state) | Short-term emotional fluctuations, often after stress or loss | Low-Medium | Self-regulating |
| Depressed | Universal emotional experience does not affect life function | Low | ❌ No intervention is required |
Treatment of depression
Treatment of depression is possible, and the earlier the intervention, the better the effect. Common treatment methods include:
Psychological therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
- Kinetic therapy
Drug treatment
- SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
- SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, etc.
Lifestyle intervention
- Increase social activities
- Regular movement
- Ensure sleep
- Nutritional intervention and sunlight
Common misunderstandings: fake depression, pretending to be sick, and laziness?
Many people still have prejudice and misunderstandings about depression:
- 'You're just too lazy'
- 'Just open it up'
- “You don’t look like a depressed person”
True depression is a mental disorder, not a 'pretentious' or 'weak will'. Every depressed person deserves to be taken seriously and supported.
Self-rescue suggestions: emotional management, support system
- Record emotional diary and track changes
- Regular work and exercise
- Try meditation and mindfulness practice
- Take the initiative to seek support from family or friends
- If you feel severely, please seek psychological counseling or medical assistance
FAQ: FAQ
Can depression be healed by itself?
Mild depression may heal itself when the support system is good, but moderate to severe requires professional intervention.
Is depression inherited?
Having a certain genetic tendency does not mean that the disease will occur. The environment and lifestyle are more important.
Can depression and anxiety occur at the same time?
Yes, the common disease of the two is more common.
Can psychological tests replace diagnosis?
It cannot be replaced, but can be used as a preliminary screening tool, and it is recommended to combine it with professional evaluation.
Recommended self-test tool summary portal
Start the test now to learn about your mental state:
👉View all free self-test tools for depression :
- Depression Self-assessment Test: Understanding Your Mental Health Status
- Quick Self-evaluation Scale of Depression Symptoms (QIDS-SR16) Online Assessment
- PHQ-9 Depression Self-test Table (Free Test) | Online PHQ-9 Scale Screening Tool
- Burns Depression List (BDC)
- SDS Depression Self-rated Scale Free Online Test
- Do you have depression in your smile?
- Are you suffering from depression?
- The Elderly Depression Scale (GDS) Online Review
- Baker Depression Scale (BDI-SF) Free Online Test
- Baker Depression Self-rated Scale BDI-IA
- Hamilton Depression Scale HAMD Free Online Test
- Online assessment of children's self-evaluation scale (DSRS-C)
- Free online assessment of children's depression scale
- Emotional Self-evaluation Scale: Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21) Online Assessment
- Bipolar Disorder - Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) Online Test | Free
- Narcissistic tendency and potential NPD Narcissistic personality disorder risk assessment: NPI-56 Narcissistic personality scale free online test
- Eisenk Emotional Stability (EES) Free Online Test
- Life Orientation Test LOT-R Free Online Test
- Psychological test: potential sadness test
- Parents must have: Achenbach Children's Behavior Scale (CBCL) Free Online Test
- Mood Thermometer (BSRS-5) Online Test
- Psychological stress test
- Free online test of UPI scale for college students’ personality questionnaire
- Symptom Self-evaluation Scale SCL90 Free Online Full-Link Assessment
- Free Online Test: Childhood Emotional Neglect Assessment (CENQ)
- Life Event Stress Scale Test
- Yale Brown Forced Scale Y-BOCS Free Online Test
- ADHD Attention Deficit ADHD ASRS Adult Self-Assessment Scale Free Online Test
- Self-evaluation of PTSD symptoms: PTSD online assessment
- Mental Health Survey Scale for Children and Adolescents (MHS-CA) Online Test
- Self-test of flattery personality: Test your flattery health index (30 questions) )
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