Online Screening Tools for Depression and Anxiety
“Depression is among the most treatable of psychiatric illnesses. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people with depression respond positively to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms. But first, depression has to be recognized.” AFSP (emphasis mine)
Recognizing depression...doesn't sound like it should be so difficult, but the reality is that it can be quite a challenge, especially when you are the one suffering. Often times, the person experiencing depression is the last to know. It seems so often depression masks itself, it creeps in slowly and can be hard to see until a really low point is reached. Waiting for the low points is not an option, nor is it safe, so how can we help others to recognize their symptoms and condition as it is happening?
I am curious about the the efficacy of using online depression and anxiety screening as a way to identify the need to seek further treatment. I wonder if a person who is experiencing symptoms of depression will feel prompted to search the internet for a screening tool? I wonder if this tool can be most effective if recommended by a friend or advocate?
Of the times in my life when I have experienced depression, I have never looked for a way to self-diagnose my condition, but one of the first things one might experience upon arrival at the doctor's office or upon meeting with the therapist would be some form of a screening tool. Often questionnaires are used or the practitioner will have a checklist of symptoms that they are using as a guide for diagnosing depression or anxiety. It seems only natural that these same tools are now available online.
I wonder how comfortable people are using these online resources for self-discovery purposes and if they truly prompt individuals to seek help when they might not otherwise? My hope is that they would be useful in this way. I found a wide variety of websites touting tools and screenings for depression and anxiety, some more inviting than others.
These include:
Psyweb.com
Queendom.com
CounsellingResource.com
I also came across this really good article that I would like to share: “Dealing with depression: A screening and a little nudging can help”
As a health activist what do you see as the benefits of online depression and anxiety screening? Do you see this as helpful? Are the tools being used properly? What's the buzz around your community on this topic?
Recognizing depression...doesn't sound like it should be so difficult, but the reality is that it can be quite a challenge, especially when you are the one suffering. Often times, the person experiencing depression is the last to know. It seems so often depression masks itself, it creeps in slowly and can be hard to see until a really low point is reached. Waiting for the low points is not an option, nor is it safe, so how can we help others to recognize their symptoms and condition as it is happening?
I am curious about the the efficacy of using online depression and anxiety screening as a way to identify the need to seek further treatment. I wonder if a person who is experiencing symptoms of depression will feel prompted to search the internet for a screening tool? I wonder if this tool can be most effective if recommended by a friend or advocate?
Of the times in my life when I have experienced depression, I have never looked for a way to self-diagnose my condition, but one of the first things one might experience upon arrival at the doctor's office or upon meeting with the therapist would be some form of a screening tool. Often questionnaires are used or the practitioner will have a checklist of symptoms that they are using as a guide for diagnosing depression or anxiety. It seems only natural that these same tools are now available online.
I wonder how comfortable people are using these online resources for self-discovery purposes and if they truly prompt individuals to seek help when they might not otherwise? My hope is that they would be useful in this way. I found a wide variety of websites touting tools and screenings for depression and anxiety, some more inviting than others.
These include:
Psyweb.com
Queendom.com
CounsellingResource.com
I also came across this really good article that I would like to share: “Dealing with depression: A screening and a little nudging can help”
As a health activist what do you see as the benefits of online depression and anxiety screening? Do you see this as helpful? Are the tools being used properly? What's the buzz around your community on this topic?
Tags: anxiety, depression, for, online, screening, testing, tools
Comment
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Comment by Amy K on November 22, 2009 at 2:37am -
Lizabeth, yes, indeed chronic illness of any kind can cause depression and it can be severe. It is quite the challenge isn't it? Depression does seem to often stick like glue, myself included. It can be so difficult and you are not alone in facing that, although I know at times it sure can feel like it.
I am so sorry to hear of your struggles with Dystonia.
I hope that more research will be done in the area of pain and chronic illness in regards to depression. I believe that they are very much interconnected and that a cycle begins that is hard to stop. There is always hope, and no pill can take the hope away from you or give it.
Amy
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Comment by Lizzy Holder on November 22, 2009 at 1:42am -
One thing I haven't seen in this discussion is dystonia. Dystonia causes depression, in my book. it took my life away as I knew it, and I became this new person that was so self concious about my neck glued to my clavicle, and nothing would stop it. After 19 years, the pills help the dystonia, but yet have found a pill out of depression. It creeps up on you and you know it, it's hard to get out of bed, much less go out the door. My mother was severely depressed.And I have so many things I can't deal with and noone to help, depression sticks to me like glue.
Lizabeth
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Comment by Amy K on November 17, 2009 at 4:35pm
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I am so with you on this Sarah. I too, suffer from depression and feel that speaking out about these topics is the only way to minimize stigma. Your example about "if I were diabetic" perfectly speaks to how we should be able to discuss depression and other mental health issues. Until it is that way world-wide, the need for our voice continues!
I agree, too, about the common sense issue... as it "seems" common sense should tell us to investigate further, when depression has it's grip, often our thoughts are not near as clear as we would like them to be and self-care can go by the wayside. Providing services such as a follow-up call perhaps, if a person agrees to it, would be a great way for these online services to aid in getting people the help they need. Just a thought...
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Comment by Sarah on November 17, 2009 at 4:06pm -
Amy, you're welcome - I figure the more we can talk about depression and anxiety, the less stigma there will be involved. I have no problem telling people about my condition and oftentimes think "If I were diabetic, I'd take probably take daily medication," so why not think about my depression the same way. I'm keeping myself healthy with that. :)
"Common sense" often goes out the window when a person is living with depression, though. I know that my thoughts aren't always as sorted as they could be and so I don't know that we can count on our common sense getting us through times when we need it to. Sad but true (for me at least).
Hopefully by us spreading the word about the resources, and relative ease of finding a way to treat depression, we can help people around us!
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Comment by Amy K on November 15, 2009 at 9:57pm
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Sara, thank you for sharing your perspective...I am happy to hear about your positive result with these online depression screening tools. I think your example is just what the mental health professionals would wish for in this scenario. I believe that "common sense" would tell us to seek further treatment, and that the warnings issued on these sites would hopefully prompt individuals to do the same as well. My concern, similar to what you stated, would be the inclination to isolate further, as one tends to do when depressed.
I see the positive side of these tools being available and would be interested to know how many stories there are like yours where they truly helped individuals to recognize depression!
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Comment by Sarah on November 15, 2009 at 8:32pm
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Amy, from personal experience, I can say that using an online depression screening may have been what truly made me realize that I have depression. Taking the Queendom.com depression screening test this evening made me realize how much my life has changed (thanks quite a bit to anti-depressants and cognitive-behavioral therapy) since first realizing my depression.
Sometimes depression is so alienating to people that the only way they feel they can reach out is online. While that has it's positive aspects (finding someone else with depression, locating counselors, figuring out that they truly are depressed), it can also further isolate a person once they realize that they have options for self-"treatment" online. I think all of these websites are doing their best to remind users that they are not physicians, clinicians, psychologists or psychiatrists and that if things are really bad, that the user needs to seek help elsewhere. I think I've even seen a site where a counselor was available to email - I couldn't imagine having that job - and dealing with the (probably) intense amount of emails he or she receives.
With proper use of these depression screening tools, I do believe that depression or anxiety can be truly treated - but we can't be dependent upon the internet to do that for us - we do have to know when to reach out.
© 2009 Created by Marie
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