Do I Need Inpatient Treatment for Depression Quiz

Moderate to Severe Depression May Require Inpatient Treatment

When one bleak day dissolves into another, with no motivation to even get out of bed in the morning and an increasing sense of despair creeping in, it is possible that a bout of depression has developed.  Is it depression or just a bit of the blues that is the cause of the low mood and lack of energy, one wonders?  Some may assume it is just a temporary funk and will ride it out.  But if after two consecutive weeks of feeling hopeless, sad, and listless the symptoms don’t lift, it is likely that what is being experienced is a major depressive episode.

Unfortunately, only a small percentage of individuals who suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD) will actually visit a doctor to discuss the symptoms, choosing instead to suffer in silence.  They may feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help, seeing their depression as a sign of weakness or something to hide from others.  Or, maybe they just don’t understand what exactly indicates a depressive episode versus the common case of the blues.  Fortunately, now there is a free, confidential online tool called the Do I Need Inpatient Treatment for Depression quiz, or the PHQ-9.

What is the Do I Need Treatment For Depression Quiz?

Because experiencing emotional pain is a common part of life, it helps to have a tool available that can help us determine if our symptoms are actually signs of MDD.  This is important because if it is MDD it is critical to get the necessary medical and psychological intervention for treating it.  If symptoms are prolonged and severe, an inpatient depression treatment program is a viable option.

The Do I Need Inpatient Treatment for Depression quiz is helpful because it is based on the nine diagnostic criteria for MDD as outlined in the DSM-5.  This brief, confidential quiz provides nine items that, based on your answers, can provide excellent information regarding the appropriate level of treatment needed.

What Are The Symptoms of Depression?

Understanding the actual diagnostic criteria for major depression can help an individual who is concerned about their current emotional health.  According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-5), the symptoms of MDD include:

DSM-5 Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

• Depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for more than two weeks
• Mood represents a change from the person’s baseline
• Impaired function: social, occupational, educational
• Specific symptoms, at least 5 or these 9 present nearly every day:
  1. Depressed mood or irritable most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful)
  2. Decreased interest or pleasure in most activities, most of each day
  3. Significant weight change (5%) or change in appetite
  4. Change in sleep: Insomnia or hypersomnia
  5. Change in activity: Psychomotor agitation or retardation
  6. Fatigue or loss of energy
  7. Guilt/worthlessness: Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
  8. Concentration: diminished ability to think or concentrate, or more indecisiveness
  9. Suicidality: Thoughts of death or suicide, or has suicide plan

What Causes Depression?

Depression is an extremely complex and mysterious mental health disorder. It is believed in the psychiatric community that depression develops due to any one or combination of causal factors. These might include:

• Brain chemistry. Brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, are believed to play a significant role in depression.  Continual research and imaging demonstrates that changes in the brain’s neurotransmitters in the limbic region functioning can impact mood.
• Depression tends to run in families.  Genetic research continues to search for the specific genes that are involved in depression among blood relatives.
• Female hormones can impact mood, and in some cases can trigger depression.  Conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), post-partum depression, and menopause-related depression may be triggered by hormonal fluctuations.
• One’s unique biological temperament plays a part in how an individual manages stressful life events and how resilient they are in the face of adversity.
• People who experienced significant loss, trauma, physical or sexual abuse, or disordered attachment early in life are more prone to developing depression in adulthood.
• Medical causes. Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid hormone imbalances, heart disease, stroke, a degenerative neurological condition, or endocrine disorders are associated with higher rates of depression

What Are The Different Types of Depression?

There are variations of depression, each having their own specific features. Although each type is characterized by the persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, and fatigue, they are each slightly different. Some of the more common types of depression include:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD). This is also referred to as clinical depression and individuals exhibit many of the symptoms listed above (DSM-5 criteria).
• bipolar disorder. This is a serious mood disorder that features extreme mood swings between mania and severe depression.
• Postpartum depression. Sudden hormonal shifts following childbirth can trigger persistent lethargy, profound sadness, delusions, and mental confusion.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This is triggered due to a lack of sunlight exposure, especially in colder climates, during winter months.

When First Line Treatment Doesn’t Help

When someone reaches out for help due to persistent depression they are usually first seen by a medical physician or mental health professional. The doctor can rule out a possible medical condition that could be causing the mood disorder. If there is no evidence of a physical cause, the individual is referred to a psychiatrist who will likely prescribe antidepressant medication therapy and psychotherapy (individual counseling sessions).

In a large number of people this traditional treatment protocol is ineffective. If the condition continues to deteriorate, the depression can become very serious. With the significant increase in suicide rates in recent years, it is important to take more aggressive action for worsening depression. A residential or inpatient rehab for depression treatment program can provide a much more targeted and comprehensive treatment approach for individuals suffering from depression.

Getting Inpatient Treatment For Depression

Many ask when should I be hospitalized for depression and mental illness? When depression treatment has already been tried without success, there are focused inpatient depression treatment centers that may be a better option. An inpatient depression program includes the follow treatment elements:

• Conducts a thorough psychiatric evaluation and reviews medical and psychiatric history, assess if there are any co-occurring disorders such as substance use disorder
• Will review current medications and make appropriate adjustments
• Provides a quiet and therapeutic space away from daily stressors
• Targeted psychotherapy sessions include the treatment modalities best suited for the individual’s specific needs
• Group therapy sessions led by a clinician who directs the discussion
• Adjunct therapies that compliment and enhance the psychotherapy, such as art and music therapy, yoga, guided meditation, and mindfulness training

Receive Help for Depression, Learn How

Inpatient depression treatment programs are offered in various formats—a residential treatment environment, a dedicated mental hospital and treatment facility. Don’t continue to suffer in silence—get the help you need and deserve. Ask about depression rehab centers that take insurance. For free assistance, receive help today at (866) 644-7911.