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DepSyS - R (Depression Symptom Screener - Revised) Sample Report

Report for: Sample Reports
Completed on: Oct 24, 2024 at 04:38 PM (GMT -6)
Completed in: 24 min

Depression is one of the most prevalent and serious mental illnesses in the world today. Approximately one in four women and one in eight men experience at least one bout of depression in their lifetime. Depression is a biological illness, one that often has a devastating impact on behavior, thoughts and feelings. Although depression can be triggered or worsened by specific events or problems as well as depressive thought patterns and personality traits, medical research has shown that it occurs as a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Almost everyone has, at one point or another, experienced feelings of unhappiness, a mood that could be associated with a disruptive life event - but true depression entails a pervasive feeling of sadness that impairs general functioning and lasts for more than two weeks.

This test assesses whether the diagnostic criteria for major depression is met, and evaluates depressive thought patterns.

Overall results  75

Sample responded in a way that indicates moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The rest of his results will describe whether he meets the criteria for a depressive illness diagnosis. In any case, it is strongly recommended that he receive help as soon as possible.
Depression isn't the same as sadness.

Depression is one of the most prevalent and serious mental illnesses in the world today. Approximately one in four women and one in eight men experience at least one bout of depression in their lifetime. Depression is a biological illness, one that often has a devastating impact on behavior, thoughts and feelings. Although depression can be triggered or worsened by specific events or problems, as well as depressive thought patterns and personality traits, medical research has shown that it occurs as a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Almost everyone has, at one point or another, experienced feelings of unhappiness, a mood that could be associated with a disruptive life event - but true depression entails a pervasive feeling of sadness that impairs general functioning and lasts for more than two weeks.

Some of the more common symptoms of depression are:

• Changes in sleep habits such as insomnia, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much.
• Changes in eating habits such as loss of appetite or weight gain.
• Decreased energy, feeling of fatigue.
• Restlessness and irritability.
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, or worthlessness.
• Persistent sad, anxious, or empty feelings.
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities, such as involvement with loved ones or hobbies.
• Thoughts of death or suicide.

Causes and Treatment of Depression

The neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine play a significant role in maintaining mood. When these neurotransmitters are in low levels, the symptoms of depression, as listed above, become clinically evident.

While depression can be considered a biological illness, there is little doubt that certain personality traits, attitudes and ways of thinking about the world can contribute greatly to the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms. This test not only assessed levels of depressive symptoms, but also evaluated various other traits to identify whether a depressive cognitive style, personality, or attitudes are also at work. The personality traits measured included Maladaptive Perfectionism and Rumination. The cognitive variables measured the tendency to attribute failures and setbacks to internal, stable factors, as well as looking for a tendency to attend to disheartening stimuli in the environment. Finally, the attitudinal measures assessed concern about what other people think, as well as the tendency to over-dramatize negative events.

Depression can be treated, depending on the severity of the individual case, using a combination of medication and therapy. Over the years, a wide range of antidepressant medications have become available. Traditional ones are the series of tricyclic antidepressants and the more recent ones consist of the SSRIs, Prozac, Paxil and many others. Antidepressant medicines are non-addictive and safe if used as prescribed. Studies have shown that 76% of patients with Major Depressive Disorder recover using antidepressants compared to only 18% on a placebo. They help restore the balance of the neurotransmitters in the brain and thereby relieve or lessen the symptoms of depression.

Unfortunately, the diagnosis of depression is often delayed, as well-meaning friends and family tell the depressed individual to just "snap out" of their mood. Many people still carry the misconception that depression is a character flaw, a problem that happens because the individual is weak. While seeking therapy and the use of anti-depressants is much more acceptable than it was a mere 10 years ago, sufferers still battle a societal stigma that is not easy to shake. The most unfortunate result of this stigma is a hesitation to seek medical treatment. With proper treatment, in fact, the feelings of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness can be alleviated so sufferers can go on to live rich and fulfilling lives. Their chemical imbalances can be addressed and they can learn ways to combat the negative thinking patterns associated with depression. The first step is diagnosing the problem.

Overall results

75

Depressive Symptoms

75

Depressed Mood

86

Loss of Interest

65

Appetite/Weight Changes

35

Sleep Disturbance

100

Psychomotor Symptoms

80

Loss of Energy

73

Guilt and Shame

86

Concentration Problems

65

Thoughts of Death or Suicide

80

Depressive Mindset

78

Maladaptive Perfectionism

72

Rumination

70

Cognitive Variables

79

Internal Attribution of Failure

82

Attentional Bias

81

Catastrophic Thinking Patterns

87

Fear of Other-oriented Criticism

79

Rigid Mindset

73

Overall results

Overall level of depression.
75
Sample responded in a way that indicates moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The rest of his results will describe whether he meets the criteria for a depressive illness diagnosis. In any case, it is strongly recommended that he receive help as soon as possible.

Depressive Symptoms

75
There is some indication that Sample might be clinically depressed. He has depressive symptoms, either many of moderate intensity, or several severe ones. The symptoms listed below that he possesses should be reviewed carefully.
  • Symptom: Generally depressed mood
  • Symptom: Loss of interest in enjoyable activities and lack of pleasure
  • Symptom: Significant changes in appetite; weight loss or weight gain
  • Symptom: Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Symptom: Psychomotor symptoms (moving slower than usual or behaving in an agitated manner)
  • Symptom: Loss of or significant decrease in energy; persistent fatigue
  • Symptom: Exaggerated feelings of guilt, shame or embarrassment
  • Symptom: Loss of or significant decrease in ability to concentrate
  • Symptom: Frequent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation

Depressive Mindset

Assesses whether Sample's thinking style, attitudes or personality make him vulnerable to depression.
78
It appears that in most areas, Sample's personality, attitudes, and thinking styles are leading to depression. Researchers have noted that depressed individuals tend to be different from non-depressed individuals in a variety of areas. These include their thinking patterns, their personality, and their attitudes about the world. Sample appears to generally fit this pattern, although it would be helpful to read his specific scale results to determine in which areas this is the case. When faced with the same situation as a person who doesn't have this depressive mindset, he is more likely to become depressed.

Maladaptive Perfectionism

Assesses the extent to which Sample is hard on himself when his standards are not met.
72
Sample had a high score on Maladaptive Perfectionism. This indicates that when he fails to achieve goals he has set, he tends to be fairly hard on himself. In general, he seems to have difficulty telling himself to try harder next time. To him, it is all about the final product rather than the process, and if he does not do something perfectly he will not be fully satisfied.

Rumination

Measures the extent to which Sample tends to over-think issues he is experiencing in his life.
70
Sample tends to over-think problems in his life, dwelling on them too long and too often, and wasting unnecessary energy. This habit likely makes issues in his life seem all the more overwhelming, often to the point where they take over his life and his thoughts. People who ruminate are vulnerable to depression because they cannot allow themselves a minute of peace. As a result, their problems tend to be magnified by the extra thought put into them. They become obsessed with relationship, career or other personal problems.

Cognitive Variables

Assesses extent to which Sample attributes failures and setbacks to stable, unchanging, and uncontrollable factors.
79
Sample tends to believe that many failures, setbacks and difficult life challenges are stable, meaning that they will not get better. Perhaps he lacks confidence in his ability to alter the outcome of a situation, or feels that other factors have control over whether things will improve. If he believes that there is room for improvement, even the most upsetting situation can be tolerated. Otherwise, he will begin to lose hope.

Internal Attribution of Failure

Assesses whether Sample tends to blame himself for problems or failures he has experienced, or tends to blame external factors.
82
Sample tends to attribute failures, setbacks and difficult life situations to internal factors, meaning that he believes that they are caused by factors within his control - factors that are his fault. This can be a really unhealthy way of thinking about failures and problems in his life. When he blames himself for everything it can really take a toll on his self-esteem. If he believes he is fundamentally incapable of dealing with issues, he may start to feel hopeless and helpless, which is a key cause of depression.

Attentional Bias

Assesses whether Sample tends to notice and pay attention to negative information in his environment more than he does positive information.
81
Depressed individuals tend to be more sensitive to negative information in their environment. They manage to pick out the one unhappy face in a crowd, or notice the negative critiques and ignore the positive. This certainly seems to be the case with Sample. He tends to be selective when it comes to the things he notices in his environment. As a result of a depressive mindset, he is more inclined to hone in on negative information instead of focusing in on the positive. When he focuses on negative input from the world around him, he serves to confirm any pessimistic thoughts and opinions he may have about himself. It will take a lot of work, but learning to refocus his attention could do him a world of good.

Catastrophic Thinking Patterns

Evaluates whether Sample tends to be overly dramatic about things that happen in his life.
87
Most of the time, Sample tends to believe that the consequences of negative events in his life will go far beyond the actual incident. When he begins to dramatize an event, he is wasting more energy on that negative experience than is necessary. People with a depressive mindset tend to think that when something bad happens, the consequences will be severe and far-reaching. They react more strongly to such situations as a result.

Fear of Other-oriented Criticism

Assesses fear of being judged by others.
79
When Sample experiences a setback or problem in his life, one of the issues on his mind is what other people will think. Unfortunately, this attitude can lead him to feel worse about his problems than he needs to. It also means that he may be less likely to seek comfort from others when he is in emotional pain.

Rigid Mindset

Assesses whether Sample has a rigid mindset or tends to be a more flexible person.
73
Sample appears to have a fairly inflexible mindset, often thinking more in terms of black and white than in shades of gray. Being flexible can help him maintain a positive attitude and allow him to adjust when things don't go as planned. People who refuse to bend have a lot of difficulty adjusting when their expectations are not met.
The following is a summarized version of Sample's results. The Areas of Concern reveal issues that need to be taken care of as soon as possible; the Areas of Potential Concern reveal issues that may not be extremely serious at the moment, but could become a problem if not dealt with.

Strengths

  • No strengths detected

Areas of Potential Concern

  • No concerns detected

Areas of Concern

  • He experiences many symptoms of depression
  • His thinking style, attitudes, and personality likely leave him vulnerable to depression
  • He is often hard on himself when his goals are not met
  • He often over-thinks issues in his life
  • He often attributes failures and setbacks to permanent, uncontrollable factors
  • He often blames himself when he experiences failures and setbacks
  • He has a tendency to notice the negative things rather than the positive things that go on around him
  • He often blows negative experiences out of proportion
  • He worries a great deal about what others will think when things go wrong in his life
  • He has an inflexible mindset and often has trouble adjusting when things do not turn out as expected
"The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden." - C. S. Lewis

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