Overall Results
You scored between:
100-125 on the assessment for Major Depressive Disorder
75 -100 on the assessment for Persistent Depressive Disorder
This means you have:
Severe Depression symptoms, meeting criteria for Major Depressive Disorder
And
Significant symptoms and signs of depression that have been steadily consistent and need to be addressed as soon as possible
Overall Results Accompanying Informatio
Because PDD, or dysthymia is a “low grade” form of depression, the symptoms are not as severe as they are commonly seen in MDD, but are more persistent. You can have PDD even if you feel mildly or moderately depressed for a long period of time. In PDD, the symptoms are not as intense, but are consistent and long lasting.
It is possible, and not uncommon to experience Major Depressive Disorder AND Persistent Depressive Disorder simultaneously. It is also common for these individuals to feel that dysthymia is part of their personality, just who they are, which does not invalidate a clinical diagnosis of PDD.
Physical Symptoms Recommendations
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Individuals who are more resistant to addressing and accepting their emotions tend to express depression through physical symptoms. In this case, solution focused approaches offered by CBT are usually utilized. From coping style worksheets to one on one therapy, this is the most useful and empirical based type of therapy that can be used to target these specific symptoms.
Neurofeedback: For individuals who value the way the body is actively interacting, and benefit from straight forward data and numbers, Neurofeedback is a helpful tool in addressing depression. Neuro or biofeedback measures muscle tension, brain waves, and temperature in response to different stimuli. As you train your with body different thoughts, you automatically see how you are responding to it.
Progressive muscle relaxation and relaxed breathing
Physical Symptoms Description
Physical symptoms of depression are often overlooked. These are the signs that quite literally prove that depression is experienced
throughout the body, and it is not a “head” issue. These symptoms also show how detrimental depression is for our overall wellbeing. Fatigue, physical pain or a decrease in pain tolerance, as well as lack of energy are some of the most common physical symptoms. The inflammation in the body that causes physical pain is impacted by the neuro circuits in the brain. Depressed individuals are known to have problems associated with the immune system, gastro intestinal system, and others. Depression and inflammation are known to be correlated, and we now know that treating solely the physical issues does not cure overall depression.
Pain is the way the body communicates. If it is socially or culturally unacceptable to express emotional symptoms of depression, it
does not mean you are not depressed. instead, it means that your body utilizes a different language of communication to express what is happening.
Emotional Symptoms Recommendations
A low score suggests an adequate management of symptoms related to your emotional state. Whatever you are doing now is working for you. If you would like to implement new techniques, you can try expressive writing, journaling, or incorporate a meditation routine into your life.
Emotional Symptoms Description
Emotional symptoms are the “poster signs” of depression. They are usually the most noticeable and socially acknowledged signs of depression. Mostly associated to sadness and feelings of emptiness, it is important to know that anger and guilt are also forms of expressing underlying sadness.
