ARE YOU DEPRESSED?

This quick, simple self-test can help distinguish between clinical depression and normal feelings of being "down in the dumps..."

It's common to get "the blues" from time to time. Many people experience difficulties over job lay-offs, divorce, the death of a loved one, or other major losses. Sadness is a normal part of life. But when sadness never returns to gladness, it becomes what mental health authorities call the nation's leading psychological problem, clinical depression, also known as major depression.

If you answer "yes" to more than two of the following questions, you may well be depressed. Consult your physician or a mental health professional.

1) Much of the time, do you feel

Sad?

Lethargic?

Pessimistic?

Hopeless?

Worthless?

Helpless?

2) Much of the time, do you

Have difficulty making decisions?

Have trouble concentrating?

Have memory problems?

3) Lately, have you

Lost interest in things that used to give you pleasure?

Had problems at work or in school?

Had problems with your family or friends?

Isolated yourself from others? Or wanted to?

4) Lately, have you

Felt low energy?

Felt restless and irritable?

Had trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting up in the morning?

Lost your appetite? Or gained weight?

Been bothered by persistent headaches, stomach aches, back aches? Muscle or joint pains?

5) Lately, have you

Been drinking more alcohol than you used to?

Been taking more mood-altering drugs than you used to?

Engaged in risky behavior--not wearing a seat belt? Crossing streets without looking?

6) Lately, have you been thinking about

Death?

Hurting yourself?

Your funeral?

Killing yourself?

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Source:Adapted from materials created by the National Institute of Mental Health's Depression Awareness, Recognition, and Treatment (D/ART) Program, Rockville, MD