Depression is a mental illness, characterized by a dominant somber feeling which must be present for several weeks at a time. Depending on the theoretical model, treatment for depression can be different. While depression is a commonly occurring phenomenon, not everyone easily finds a treatment for depression. From research it has been shown that the prevalence of depression has doubled and reached a rating of 5.8% in 1998 (Crystal, S., Sambamoorthi, U., Walkup, J. T. & Akıncıgil, A., 2003).

Depression? Symptoms depression?

Does this suddenly mean that depression has started to occur more often than before? This is not something which we can be sure about. In the past, people often believed that symptoms of depression were a sign of a physical disease, or they were not seen as depression or symptoms of depression. There are general symptoms of depression, yet these symptoms of depression can differ between diagnostic tools and even from theory to theory, in which depression symptoms are indicated. One of the most well-known diagnostic tools for symptoms of depression is the DSM-V. These theories or tools are them built upon in order to set up a treatment for depression, for example. An example of differences between theories is indicated in the research conducted by Peeters, Ponds, Vermeeren (1996):

The understanding validity regards the extent to which the results of a test are suitable within existing theoretic concepts considering the disorder that is considered.

This means that the theory decides whether or not a depression test can actually measure a depression in the general population. It can thus be so that, for example, you get a diagnosis depression at the hand of the DSM-V, while you do not get such a diagnosis at the hand of some other tool.

Depression? Treatment depression?

While the prevalence of depression increases, many people do not find their way to treatment. For example, there are certain groups of people who do often not find their way to a treatment for depression (Crystal, S., Sambamoorthi, U., Walkup, J. T. & Akıncıgil, A., 2003). In some instances, people are not welcome without a diagnosis depression if they are looking for a treatment for depression. Thus, it can be very difficult to know when you might get a depression diagnosis and which treatment can help you get better. In spite of these large differences in theory, this should not stop you from looking for treatment for depression. In every depression diagnosis tool, subjective suffering is considered. If you experience symptoms of depression, you are suffering from these symptoms. Whether or not you then receive a depression diagnosis should not stop you from treating your symptoms of depression and suffering. WIthout a diagnosis you can always still look for a treatment of depression in order to deal with your suffering and to once again learn to believe in your own capacities. A tool or diagnosis depression should not stop your capabilities of dealing with your own suffering. The online self-help program 15 Minutes 4 Me does not focus on a depression diagnosis, but helps you to treat your suffering. You can learn to recognize the symptoms of depression. Based on therapeutic techniques you learn to deal with these symptoms of depression and learn to use your own capacities in order to change your suffering and create happiness. The online self-help program thus offers treatment for depression without focusing on a diagnosis of depression.

Depression? Take our free depression test!

There are different validated forms of a depression test. The most well-known ones are the BECK and the SCL-90. The depression test DASS, too, has high validity and offers a good overview of your symptoms of depression. Fill our this free depression test here and learn more about your symptoms of depression!