Am I Depressed Quiz: 10 Questions To Assess Your Mood
Take this quick, anonymous depression quiz to check if your symptoms match clinical depression and learn when to seek professional help.
Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP. Last updated 10 Jun 2025. Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines.
Patient does not store any of your personal or medical data in association with your quiz answers. All responses are completely anonymous.
Can’t see the quiz? This is a self-assessment tool. Use the questions below to score yourself.
About Depression
We all feel a little down from time to time. Whether we’re going through a difficult time with work, have fallen out with friends, or are just physically run-down, most of us feel sad or a little depressed once in a while.
So how do we know if our feelings are a normal emotional reaction to stressful times, or whether we’re suffering from the symptoms of depression? Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a common and serious mental health condition that negatively affects how you feel, think, and act. It is more than just feeling sad; it can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems that might make you feel incapable of functioning well in daily life.
According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), depression interferes with daily work, sleep, appetite, and social activities. It’s treatable, but early recognition is key. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) categorizes depression as ‘less severe’ (subthreshold or mild) or ‘more severe’ (moderate or severe), often using tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Who This Depression Quiz Is For?
This depression test is for when you are worried you might be having symptoms of depression or are concerned that a friend or loved one might be depressed. It’s designed for adults experiencing persistent low mood, loss of interest in activities, or other signs that disrupt daily life.
- If you’ve been feeling low for more than two weeks.
- If everyday tasks feel overwhelming.
- If you’re supporting someone who seems withdrawn or uninterested.
This quiz draws from validated screening tools like the PHQ-9, a nine-item self-report questionnaire that screens for depression severity in primary care.
What Does the ‘Am I Depressed?’ Test Consist Of?
This depression test consists of a series of 10 questions designed to help you see whether your symptoms are consistent with depression. These are adapted from the PHQ-9, which scores nine DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), plus an additional question on symptom duration.
Take the quiz now by answering honestly about the past two weeks. For each question, choose:
- 0 – Not at all
- 1 – Several days
- 2 – More than half the days
- 3 – Nearly every day
Depression Quiz Questions:
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things?
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?
- Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much?
- Feeling tired or having little energy?
- Poor appetite or overeating?
- Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down?
- Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television?
- Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed? Or the opposite — being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual?
- Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way?
- Bonus: How difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?
How to Score Your Quiz
Add up your scores from questions 1-9 (maximum 27). Use this table for interpretation, based on PHQ-9 guidelines:
| Score | Severity | Action Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | Minimal | Monitor; no immediate action needed unless persistent. |
| 5-9 | Mild | Consider lifestyle changes; discuss with doctor if ongoing. |
| 10-14 | Moderate | Seek professional help; therapy or medication may be advised. |
| 15-19 | Moderately Severe | Prompt medical evaluation; treatment likely needed. |
| 20-27 | Severe | Urgent professional intervention required. |
For question 10, scores of 2 or 3 indicate significant functional impairment.
What Will the Results Tell Me?
The results will give you an indication as to whether you might be depressed. If you are feeling down, it is important that you speak to your doctor, even if your score is low. A score of 10 or above suggests probable depression warranting further assessment. This tool aids self-awareness but is not diagnostic.
How Accurate Is the Depression Test?
The depression test will give you an idea as to whether you have any depressive symptoms. However, depression is a complex mental health problem, so you should not rely on this test to diagnose your condition. Always talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
The PHQ-9 has high validity: a score ≥10 shows 88% sensitivity and specificity for major depression against professional interviews. PHQ-2 (first two questions) has 97% sensitivity for screening. Still, factors like comorbidities or cultural differences affect accuracy.
Feeling Depressed or Having Depression?
Having a low mood and being unhappy is often mixed up with depression, but they are different. Low mood from life events (e.g., bereavement) typically resolves in weeks, while clinical depression persists and includes multiple symptoms.
Symptoms of Depression
Clinical depression has a range of symptoms – both physical and emotional – which can interfere with your day-to-day life. Common signs include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood.
- Loss of interest in hobbies (anhedonia).
- Significant weight changes or appetite shifts.
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia).
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation.
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Discovering whether you have one or more of these symptoms could be an important step towards getting the help you need. NICE notes that less severe cases may respond to guided self-help, while severe cases often require antidepressants or CBT.
Risk Factors and Prevalence
Depression affects about 1 in 6 people at some point. Women are more likely diagnosed, but men often underreport. Risk factors: family history, chronic illness, trauma, substance use.
Treatment Options
Treatments include:
- Talking therapies: CBT helps reframe negative thoughts.
- Medications: SSRIs like sertraline for moderate-severe cases.
- Lifestyle: Exercise, sleep hygiene, social support.
- Crisis: Contact Samaritans (116 123) or emergency services if suicidal.
Monitor progress with repeat PHQ-9.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can this quiz diagnose depression?
A: No, it’s a screening tool only. Consult a GP for diagnosis.
Q: What if my score is high?
A: See your doctor promptly. Scores 10+ indicate need for assessment.
Q: Is depression treatable?
A: Yes, most people recover with treatment like therapy or medication.
Q: How long do symptoms need to last?
A: Typically 2+ weeks for screening; diagnosis requires clinical evaluation.
Q: Are there quizzes for other conditions?
A: Yes, Patient.info offers for diabetes, OCD, postnatal depression.
Onebright offers online CBT for anxiety, depression, and stress. Learn more about connecting thoughts, feelings, and behaviors for better mental health.
References
- Quiz: Am I Depressed? — Patient.info. 2025-06-10. https://patient.info/features/mental-health/quiz-am-i-depressed
- Self-assessment Quizzes – Depression — Patient.info. 2025. https://patient.info/self-assessment
- Depression Leaflet — Patient.info (NICE guidelines). 2025. https://patient.info/mental-health/depression-leaflet
- Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) — Patient.info. 2025. https://patient.info/doctor/mental-health/phq-9
- Depression: Screening & Assessment — Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). 2025. https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/depression/depression—screening-and-assessment
- Depression Assessment Instruments — American Psychological Association (APA). 2025. https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline/assessment
- Depression – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — NIMH (.gov). 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
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