Major depression affects an estimated 15 million American adults. It?s likely that either you or someone you know has experienced the symptoms of depression at one time or another.

Everyone gets down from time to time, but how do you know if you?re truly depressed? Taking a depression test can help you assess your symptoms, and figure out if you need help.

Questions on depression tests are based on common symptoms of the condition. To take the depression test, ask yourself: ? Do you feel sad, down, or hopeless? ? Do you blame myself for bad things that happen and feel like you?re worthless? ? Have you lost interest in activities you once loved? ? Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? ? Do you sleep too much? ? Do you feel tired and drained of energy? ? Are you uninterested in food, or do you eat too much? ? Have you gained or lost weight in the last two weeks? ? Do you have more trouble concentrating and making decisions at work and at home? ? Do you talk and move much more slowly than usual? ? Do you wish you were dead, or believe your friends and family would be better off without you?

The next step in the depression test is to assess how often you have these feelings: never, on several days, more than half the time, or almost every day. Also assess how much these feelings impact your life?from not at all to significantly.

If your depression test result indicates that you?ve experienced depression symptoms on a regular basis, see a health care professional for screening. Your doctor might start with a physical exam to see if a health condition is causing your symptoms. Then you?ll have a psychological evaluation, in which your doctor asks questions about your symptoms. Treatment will depend on the severity of your depression, and what type you have.