You have probably arrived at this page because you Googled the question, "Am I Depressed?" The way that doctors determine if you are depressed is if you meet certain criteria set forth in a manual called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMS-IV).
The following are profiles of depressive disorders, based upon DSM-IV criteria.
If the DSM-IV criteria seem a little too complicated to understand, a simpler tool you can use to determine whether you're suffering from depression is the Wakefield Questionnaire. To use it, simply click on the answers that apply to you then click the box at the bottom of the screen. It will automatically be scored for you. A pop up window will appear with your score and an interpretation of your score. While this scale is not intended to make a diagnosis of depression, it is an excellent way to screen yourself to determine if you should seek professional help. It also is useful in helping you track your moods over time. This can aid you in determining whether your medications are effective and can provide useful information for your physician as well.
