Beck Depression Inventory

[SteveW]

Several people have mentioned pencil and paper tests for diagnosing depression lately. This is common in clinical practice and research. One of the better tests, the Beck Depression Inventory, is available online. It was put together by the guy who invented Cognitive Behavior Therapy. It isn't a substitute for proper diagnosis by a GP or a psychiatrist but it might give added support to a decision to visit a medical professional to get one done. There are instructions at the top. All you need to know is that a score of 17-20 or above indicates that you might be suffering from clinical depression. The link is


http://www.ibogaine.desk.nl/graphics/3639b1c_23.pdf

[Got]

At one point, when I wasmt suffer if I had depression or I was just making it up, I filled this in honestly as I could, and I was supprised by how high I rated on it.

When I look back over the previous four years, I realise that I have been depressed for a lond time, and I think things like this can be useful for many people who are actually struggling, but dont fully realise it. If I had receved correct help and care when I needed it, I wouldn't have got so in the first place.

[Got]

Just looking over it, it is scary how highly I would have scored on it a few weeks ago. I did one of these with my CBT therapist, then she asked me how long I had felt like this, I sad at least a few months, and then she discharged me saying I was to depressed for her to help me, and made me an appointment at the hospital...and then left me without care for two months and still waiting now for the appointment....

....I'm sure this isn't sensible or responsible behavior....but to be kind to her, she did ring me up a few weeks ago and ask how I was,

[SteveW]

Stevie

That isn't the way it's meant to be used. In CBT it is supposed to be used to evaluate how well the therapy is going. If you are on the right lines a persons scores should be falling. I've never heard of a CBT therapist turning someone away as too depressed. If she felt she had to refer you she should have kept working with you until the new therapy was in place. Just leaving you to it was very irresponsible. I'm glad you've survived.

Love

Steve

[Got]

Yes, she discharged me saying she wouldn't be able to help me, and that I needed someone who was more used to dealing with major depression, and she made me a referal with the hospital. She said she would begin to see me again once my condition improved.

I havn't had any sensible interactions with the NHS yet, and to be honest, I have given up with them, apart from medication, which I will discuss with the psychiatrist when I see him/her. In terms of therapy, I have no longer any faith in receiving any. I was in hospital a few months back with bad depression, and yet I am not receiving any support from them. It has proven impossible to get help.

I'm not being bitter here, I just dont want to get my hopes up and then be disapointed again. I will continue with the medication and continue to read my self help books. I have made some improvement since Friday, which is good.

Hope you are well.

[danbob]

iv filled out soooooo many of them bloody questionnaires

[SteveW]

I've met CBT therapists who get them filled in after every session which I guess could get tedious. But the intention is good. If you are trying to get someone out of depression how can you tell that you're doing the right thing unless you have some way of measuring depth of depression. Other than that you are left with your own general impressions which aren't always that reliable.

[Munchroom]

Holy Moly... 42!   Possibly quite a good tool in reminding those of us that 'think' we are slowly getting back to normal that we have quite a way to go and to not push ourselves to much   very frustrating though....

Thats awful Stevie   To realise that you were suffereing for major depression and yet still discharge you with no other means of continual support... sounds highly unproffesional  

[SteveW]

To Munchroom

42 is quite a high score but I've known plenty of people score the maximum. The real use of the Inventory is to make comparisons-to see if a drug or therapeutic technique is working. I also sometimes used to give it to relatives and ask them to imagine what it would feel like to score 3 on every section. It gave them a insight into the depressive frame of mind.

[Munchroom]

If I had filled it in at my lowest last August... I'm sure 42 would seem like a huge improvement 

Thats a good idea about showing it to others though, I think so often people think depression is just 'feeling sad' they don't realise the knock on effects it has on everything.....

[SteveW]

It's useful with people just diagnosed with depression too. It shows them that they are suffering from a well recognized set of symptoms not just something individual to them.