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Disease Symptom Tips :: Depression Tests
Depression Tests: Why Depression Quizzes and Tests Rarely Work
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The National Mental Health Institution offers free depression tests right on their website (http://depression-screening.org). The tests are multiple-choice, confidential and designed to recognize potential symptoms of depression.
But, are they really effective? Can patients actually self-diagnose? To learn more about these self-administered tests, keep reading.
Not as Effective as Doctor Patient Interaction
A quick, online test that assesses a patient's predisposition to depression, risk for depression or current bout of depression is not as effective as an interview conducted face-to-face with a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
A doctor can sense inhibitions, anxiety, false answers or other cues that may not be evident with a basic, online test. Of course, these depression tests clearly state that they're designed to identify possible symptoms of depression and aren't made to give accurate, clinical diagnoses.
Good at Raising Awareness
These online depression quizzes and tests are, however, great at raising awareness about depression and helping people to recognize possible symptoms in themselves. They also serve as a great tool for helping people who are unwilling to admit that they may be suffering from depression to actively go out and seek treatment.
Because they're confidential and anonymous, people who are unsure about their depression can access these online tests feeling secure that their predicament and identity are protected.
Not Good at Follow-Up
Where many of these depression quizzes and tests fail is in the follow-up. If a person is identified as depressed, then they are often simply advised to seek treatment. They're not directed to potential resources in their area or a list of practitioners that can help them. Instead, they're simply told to get help.
A better method would be to identify potential signs or symptoms of depression and then connect the person directly to a psychiatric or medical professional in their area that's experienced with dealing with and treating depression.
Unable to Catch Other Illnesses
While a short and simple depression test might be great at identifying the symptoms associated with depression, it will miss a potential diagnosis for other illnesses. For example, a person suffering from bipolar depression may pass a depression test with flying colors, think they're fine and continue on without seeking professional help for their bipolar disorder.
So, while depression tests may raise awareness and help people identify depression or the symptoms of depression, they should not be taken too seriously. These fun and simple quizzes may only work to misdiagnose, fail to follow up with a diagnosis or miss a possible diagnosis all together.
People who think they may be suffering from depression are advised to consult the National Mental Health Institution for a referral to a doctor in their area.
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