📋 What to expect
What is depression?
Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) is a mood disorder characterised by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, and a cluster of symptoms affecting daily functioning. It affects approximately 280 million people worldwide according to WHO. Depression is not a character weakness — it is a medical condition with well-documented neurobiological underpinnings. It is highly treatable through psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Common symptoms
Depression symptoms include: persistent depressed mood, loss of interest in usual activities (anhedonia), fatigue or loss of energy, sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia), concentration difficulties, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and in severe cases, thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.
About the PHQ-9
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is the world's most widely used depression screening and severity scale in primary care. It was validated by Kroenke et al. (2001) in JAMA. A score ≥ 10 is associated with moderate depression warranting clinical evaluation. If you score high or experience suicidal thoughts, please consult a healthcare professional immediately.