Depression, Anxiety, Mood Disorders Screenings

Depression

Depression is very treatable, with the overwhelming majority of those who seek treatment showing improvement. The most commonly used treatments are antidepressant medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two.  The choice of treatment depends on the pattern, severity, persistence of depressive symptoms and the history of the illness.  As with many illnesses, early treatment is more effective and helps prevent the likelihood of serious recurrences.  Depression must be treated by a physician or qualified mental health professional.

Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 6.7% (more than 16 million) of American adults each year. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Depression Screening: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screen/patient-health

Anxiety

Most people experience feelings of anxiety before an important event such as a big exam, business presentation or first date. Anxiety disorders, however, are illnesses that cause people to feel frightened, distressed and uneasy for no apparent reason. Left untreated, these disorders can dramatically reduce productivity and significantly diminish an individual’s quality of life.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in America; 18.1% of adults – more than 44 million – are affected by these debilitating illnesses each year. (Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence)

Anxiety Screening: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screen/anxiety

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are a category of illnesses that describe a serious change in mood. Illness under mood disorders include: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder (mania – euphoric, hyperactive, over inflated ego, unrealistic optimism), persistent depressive disorder (long lasting low grade depression), cyclothymia (a mild form of bipolar disorder), and SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

About 20% of the U.S. population reports at least one depressive symptom in a given month, and 12% report two or more in a year. A survey conducted in 1992 found rates of major depression reaching 5% in the previous 30 days, 17% for a lifetime. Bipolar disorder is less common, occurring at a rate of 1% in the general population, but some believe the diagnosis is often overlooked because manic elation is too rarely reported as an illness.

Mood Disorders Screening: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screen/mood-disorder

*This screen is not meant to be a diagnosis.  Having emotional, attentional, or behavioral problems is different than having a diagnosable mental illness.  In addition, emotional, attentional, or behavioral problems can be caused by other factors like recent life changes, trauma, or health problems.  Only a trained professional, such as a doctor or a mental health provider, can make this determination. Taking time to get the right diagnosis and care of mental health conditions in children is important. Printing out or emailing the results of this screening and showing them to a mental health professional can help in getting the right treatment.