Goldberg Depression Questionnaire
Ivan Goldberg

Printable Version

Use this questionnaire to help determine if you need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment of depression, or to monitor your mood.

Instructions: You might reproduce this scale and use it on a weekly basis to track your moods. It also might be used to show your doctor how your symptoms have changed from one visit to the next. Changes of five or more points are significant. This scale is not designed to make a diagnosis of depression or take the place of a professional diagnosis. If you suspect that you are depressed, please consult with a mental health professional as soon as possible.

The 18 items below refer to how you have felt and behaved during the past week. For each item, indicate the extent to which it is true, by checking the appropriate box next to the item.

1. I do things slowly. 

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

2. My future seems hopeless.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

3. It is hard for me to concentrate on reading.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

4. The pleasure and joy has gone out of my life.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

5. I have difficulty making decisions.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

6. I have lost interest in aspects of life that used to be important to me.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

7. I feel sad, blue, and unhappy.

o Not at all
o
Just a little
o
Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

8. I am agitated and keep moving around.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

9. I feel fatigued.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

10. It takes great effort for me to do simple things.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

11. I feel that I am a guilty person who deserves to be
        punished.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

12. I feel like a failure.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

13. I feel lifeless -- more dead than alive.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

14. My sleep has been disturbed -- too little, too much, 
      or broken sleep.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

15. I spend time thinking about HOW I might kill myself.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

16. I feel trapped or caught.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

17. I feel depressed even when good things happen to me.

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

18. Without trying to diet I have lost weight (or gained weight).

o Not at all

o Just a little

o Somewhat
o Moderately
o Quite a lot
o Very much

Add up all your points to obtain a total score

° Not at all

=

0
° Just a little

point
° Somewhat 2 points   
° Moderately

points   
° Quite a lot 4 points   
° Very much 

points 

   

Find your total score on the Interpretation Table below

 

Score Interpretation
54 and up Severely Clinically Depressed
36 - 53 Clinically Depressed, Moderate - Severe
22 - 35 Clinically Depressed, Mild - Moderate
18 - 21 Borderline Clinical Depression
10 - 17 Possibly Mildly Depressed
  0 - 9 No Depression Likely

 


 

You should not take this score to represent a mental disorder diagnosis or any type of behavioral healthcare treatment recommendation. Always consult with a trained mental health professional if you are experiencing depressive feelings and/or difficulties in your daily functioning that cause you anxiety or worry.

 


Copyright 1993 Ivan Goldberg. All rights reserved. Adopted from the printed edition of the Goldberg Depression Inventory for electronic distribution. For personal use only; other use may be prohibited by law.