Of the teens who have experienced a depressive episode, data show that 15% of them experienced severe impairment. This means that they were unable to go on with their day-to-day lives without struggling with depressive symptoms.
This article seeks to educate parents on various depression tests. It will explore how depression tests work and highlight the common depression tests for teenagers. It will also explore multiple depression warning signs in teenagers. If you suspect your teen has depression, contactNexStep Teen Academytoday. We will provide the necessary information and services to help your teen.
What is a Depression Test for Teens?
A depression test is a scientific assessment tool used to determine whether a teen has depression. It is evidence-based and relies on thorough research to guarantee its efficacy. When you think about a depression test, one that comes to mind is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, the DSM-5 is not a depression test. It is a general guide or reference book that helps clinicians determine which mental health condition to test for.
Common Depression Tests for Teens
Depression tests can be self-reported or administered by clinicians. Mental health practitioners have also leveraged technology and developed online assessment tools. The following are some common depression tests for teens:
PHQ-9 for Adolescents (PHQ-A)
ThePatient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)is a simple self-assessment tool suitable for teens aged 12-18. It is a brief and reliable tool used in the routine assessment of depression. It is based on the DSM diagnostic criteria.
The test contains nine questions that explore your teen’s feelings over the past two weeks. If your teen has experienced various depressive episodes, they will be asked to rate the frequency and severity of the symptoms. The PHQ-A contains a scale of 0 to 3. 0 means that your teen has not experienced a depressive episode, while 3 indicates that they have experienced the symptom every day.
PHQ-A is typically used in primary care and school settings. It is suitable for detecting moderate to severe depression in teenagers. The PHQ-A is useful as an early screening tool for depression symptoms, but it does not offer a definitive diagnosis.
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
TheBeck Depression Inventoryis a 21-item questionnaire used to assess the severity of teen depression. It is suitable for teens above the age of 13 and is based on the DSM-5 criteria. The test contains 21 items, each with a scale of 0-3. 0 represents no symptoms, while 3 represents severe and frequent symptoms. If your teen’s score on the BDI is close to 63, it indicates that they have severe depression.
The BDI is highly effective and is primarily used to track the severity of depression over time. However, it is limited because teens may under- or over-report.
Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)
The BASC is one of the most comprehensive diagnostic tools for depression. It assesses depression from three different focal points. Your teen offers the first perspective through self-reporting. The other perspectives are provided by parents or guardians and teachers. This assessment tool also categorizes depressive symptoms into internal and external symptoms. Internal symptoms are self-reported, while parents and teachers report external ones.
Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI)
CDI 2is a modification of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). It is used in school and clinical settings to evaluate depression symptoms in teenagers. The CDI is suitable for both children and teens as it covers a wide age range (7-17). It is more comprehensive than the BDI because it introduces new items that can be attributable to teenage depression. It also introduces other factors that are attributable to and representative of the United States population.
CDI also takes into account the perspectives of teachers and parents. This is useful in evaluating and quantifying the severity of depressive symptoms. The self-assessment portion of CDI 2 contains a 28-item questionnaire. Its scale ranges from 0-2, with 0 indicating the absence of a depressive symptom and 2 representing a frequent symptom. The parent and teacher versions contain 17 and 12 items, respectively.
Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ)
TheMFQis a 33-item self-assessment tool for teens to report symptoms of depression. It also contains a 34-item parent version to offer a different perspective. The tool is suitable for children and teenagers between the ages of six and nineteen.
The MFQ scale ranges from 0 to 2. 0 represents a lack of depressive symptoms, while 2 represents severe and frequent symptoms. The MFQ is typically used in a clinical or school setting to determine the severity of depressive symptoms. However, its questions may not be definitive enough to distinguish between normal sadness and depression. If your teen scores above 27 on this test, it may indicate moderate to severe depression.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
TheCES-Dis a 20-item self-reporting scale used in primary care settings. It can be used on children and teenagers aged 6 to 18. Each item contains a four-point scale used to determine the severity of teenage depression. If your teen scores above 16 on this test, it may indicate they have depression.
CES-D has a major limitation. CES-D is less specific and cannot be used to determine clinical depression. This makes it a non-diagnostic tool, but rather an assessment tool.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS/HRSD/HAM-D)
HAM-Dis one of the oldest depression assessment scales. It is a clinically administered tool suitable for both teenagers and adults. It is a 21-item questionnaire with either a five- or three-point scale. The test can detect cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms of depression. Teenagers who score higher on this test may have severe forms of depression.
Signs That Your Teen May Need a Depression Test
Teens with depression exhibit various behavioral and emotional signs. These include the following:
Emotional Signs of Teen Depression
Persistent hopelessness, helplessness, and emptiness
Guilt and shame
Irritability
Trouble concentrating in class
Low self-confidence and self-worth
Having a negative outlook on life
Becoming overly self-critical
Suicidal thoughts
Thoughts about self-harm
Behavioral Signs of Teen Depression
Insomnia or sleeping too much
Changes in appetite
Eating too much
Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
Engaging in high-risk behavior
Having emotional outbursts
Social isolation
Change in friend groups
A decline in academic performance
Teen Depression Treatment at NexStep Teen Academy
The growing mental health epidemic in the United States is concerning. As a parent or guardian, you should get your teen the treatment they need. At NexStep Teen Academy, we offer high-quality assessments for teen depression. We deploy various diagnostic tools to determine the severity of your teen’s depression. We use the most comprehensive tools to prevent misdiagnoses and underdiagnoses of mental health conditions.
NexStep Teen Academy prides itself on providing quality treatment. We use evidence-based and holistic approaches to ensure positive mental health outcomes. In addition to this, our facility is located in a tranquil environment where your teen can focus on treatment.
If your teen has exhibited signs of major depression, NexStep Teen Academy is here to help.Contact us todayto get your teen the help they need. Visit our website or contact us for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can depression tests be taken online for teens?
Yes, many of the self-reporting depression tests can be taken online. This ensures increased accessibility to mental health diagnosis and treatment.
Depression Test for Teens
Table of Contents
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. It is estimated that 20.17% of teenagers have experienced a depressive episode in their lives. The onset of depression typically occurs at 14 years, but it can begin even earlier.
Of the teens who have experienced a depressive episode, data show that 15% of them experienced severe impairment. This means that they were unable to go on with their day-to-day lives without struggling with depressive symptoms.
This article seeks to educate parents on various depression tests. It will explore how depression tests work and highlight the common depression tests for teenagers. It will also explore multiple depression warning signs in teenagers. If you suspect your teen has depression, contact NexStep Teen Academy today. We will provide the necessary information and services to help your teen.
What is a Depression Test for Teens?
A depression test is a scientific assessment tool used to determine whether a teen has depression. It is evidence-based and relies on thorough research to guarantee its efficacy. When you think about a depression test, one that comes to mind is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, the DSM-5 is not a depression test. It is a general guide or reference book that helps clinicians determine which mental health condition to test for.
Common Depression Tests for Teens
Depression tests can be self-reported or administered by clinicians. Mental health practitioners have also leveraged technology and developed online assessment tools. The following are some common depression tests for teens:
PHQ-9 for Adolescents (PHQ-A)
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a simple self-assessment tool suitable for teens aged 12-18. It is a brief and reliable tool used in the routine assessment of depression. It is based on the DSM diagnostic criteria.
The test contains nine questions that explore your teen’s feelings over the past two weeks. If your teen has experienced various depressive episodes, they will be asked to rate the frequency and severity of the symptoms. The PHQ-A contains a scale of 0 to 3. 0 means that your teen has not experienced a depressive episode, while 3 indicates that they have experienced the symptom every day.
PHQ-A is typically used in primary care and school settings. It is suitable for detecting moderate to severe depression in teenagers. The PHQ-A is useful as an early screening tool for depression symptoms, but it does not offer a definitive diagnosis.
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-item questionnaire used to assess the severity of teen depression. It is suitable for teens above the age of 13 and is based on the DSM-5 criteria. The test contains 21 items, each with a scale of 0-3. 0 represents no symptoms, while 3 represents severe and frequent symptoms. If your teen’s score on the BDI is close to 63, it indicates that they have severe depression.
The BDI is highly effective and is primarily used to track the severity of depression over time. However, it is limited because teens may under- or over-report.
Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)
The BASC is one of the most comprehensive diagnostic tools for depression. It assesses depression from three different focal points. Your teen offers the first perspective through self-reporting. The other perspectives are provided by parents or guardians and teachers. This assessment tool also categorizes depressive symptoms into internal and external symptoms. Internal symptoms are self-reported, while parents and teachers report external ones.
Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI)
CDI 2 is a modification of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). It is used in school and clinical settings to evaluate depression symptoms in teenagers. The CDI is suitable for both children and teens as it covers a wide age range (7-17). It is more comprehensive than the BDI because it introduces new items that can be attributable to teenage depression. It also introduces other factors that are attributable to and representative of the United States population.
CDI also takes into account the perspectives of teachers and parents. This is useful in evaluating and quantifying the severity of depressive symptoms. The self-assessment portion of CDI 2 contains a 28-item questionnaire. Its scale ranges from 0-2, with 0 indicating the absence of a depressive symptom and 2 representing a frequent symptom. The parent and teacher versions contain 17 and 12 items, respectively.
Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ)
The MFQ is a 33-item self-assessment tool for teens to report symptoms of depression. It also contains a 34-item parent version to offer a different perspective. The tool is suitable for children and teenagers between the ages of six and nineteen.
The MFQ scale ranges from 0 to 2. 0 represents a lack of depressive symptoms, while 2 represents severe and frequent symptoms. The MFQ is typically used in a clinical or school setting to determine the severity of depressive symptoms. However, its questions may not be definitive enough to distinguish between normal sadness and depression. If your teen scores above 27 on this test, it may indicate moderate to severe depression.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
The CES-D is a 20-item self-reporting scale used in primary care settings. It can be used on children and teenagers aged 6 to 18. Each item contains a four-point scale used to determine the severity of teenage depression. If your teen scores above 16 on this test, it may indicate they have depression.
CES-D has a major limitation. CES-D is less specific and cannot be used to determine clinical depression. This makes it a non-diagnostic tool, but rather an assessment tool.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS/HRSD/HAM-D)
HAM-D is one of the oldest depression assessment scales. It is a clinically administered tool suitable for both teenagers and adults. It is a 21-item questionnaire with either a five- or three-point scale. The test can detect cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms of depression. Teenagers who score higher on this test may have severe forms of depression.
Signs That Your Teen May Need a Depression Test
Teens with depression exhibit various behavioral and emotional signs. These include the following:
Emotional Signs of Teen Depression
Behavioral Signs of Teen Depression
Teen Depression Treatment at NexStep Teen Academy
The growing mental health epidemic in the United States is concerning. As a parent or guardian, you should get your teen the treatment they need. At NexStep Teen Academy, we offer high-quality assessments for teen depression. We deploy various diagnostic tools to determine the severity of your teen’s depression. We use the most comprehensive tools to prevent misdiagnoses and underdiagnoses of mental health conditions.
NexStep Teen Academy prides itself on providing quality treatment. We use evidence-based and holistic approaches to ensure positive mental health outcomes. In addition to this, our facility is located in a tranquil environment where your teen can focus on treatment.
If your teen has exhibited signs of major depression, NexStep Teen Academy is here to help. Contact us today to get your teen the help they need. Visit our website or contact us for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, many of the self-reporting depression tests can be taken online. This ensures increased accessibility to mental health diagnosis and treatment.