Hey all
Since 1960, The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS or "The HAM-D") has been the gold standard in identifying and evaluating depression in humans. I have always felt that it lacked some very basic and important questions. I have found that there are certain behaviors that are common in nearly all people who are at least moderately depressed. Here are 5 that I used to continually observed in depressed clients. The HAM-D doesn't even mention any of these. It is still a useful tool, but I think that it would be more effective (and could more readily cut to the heart of the matter) if it included the following. (If you find that 2 or more of these describe you, you are more than likely to be clinically depressed at this moment).
1.It feels like the clock is moving too slowly. Every time you glance at the time, you wish that it was later. Conversely, a happy person usually thinks that the clock is moving too quickly.
2.You are too depressed to seek help. You feel that you need it, but can't imagine getting yourself together and enduring the rigors of an office visit.
3.You let your personal hygiene slide a bit. Many report that it is next to impossible to get together the motivation for something like a simple shower.
4. You find it progressively more difficult to get out of bed in the morning, as you begin using sleep as escapism.
5.You have trouble staying awake in the daytime. Time feels like it is moving so slowly that you can't imagine how you will be able to endure it until your next scheduled bedtime.
Does anyone care to say if they are prisoner to any of these behaviors? We can use that as a starting point and then further develop the five of these, and ultimately provide some workarounds to these problems. Thanks!
Since 1960, The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS or "The HAM-D") has been the gold standard in identifying and evaluating depression in humans. I have always felt that it lacked some very basic and important questions. I have found that there are certain behaviors that are common in nearly all people who are at least moderately depressed. Here are 5 that I used to continually observed in depressed clients. The HAM-D doesn't even mention any of these. It is still a useful tool, but I think that it would be more effective (and could more readily cut to the heart of the matter) if it included the following. (If you find that 2 or more of these describe you, you are more than likely to be clinically depressed at this moment).
1.It feels like the clock is moving too slowly. Every time you glance at the time, you wish that it was later. Conversely, a happy person usually thinks that the clock is moving too quickly.
2.You are too depressed to seek help. You feel that you need it, but can't imagine getting yourself together and enduring the rigors of an office visit.
3.You let your personal hygiene slide a bit. Many report that it is next to impossible to get together the motivation for something like a simple shower.
4. You find it progressively more difficult to get out of bed in the morning, as you begin using sleep as escapism.
5.You have trouble staying awake in the daytime. Time feels like it is moving so slowly that you can't imagine how you will be able to endure it until your next scheduled bedtime.
Does anyone care to say if they are prisoner to any of these behaviors? We can use that as a starting point and then further develop the five of these, and ultimately provide some workarounds to these problems. Thanks!