Home1
Psychological tests2
Depression Symptom and Severity Questionnaire3

Depression Symptom and Severity Questionnaire Test

With 72 questions and an estimated 14-minute completion time, the Depression Symptom and Severity Questionnaire Test reviews experiences linked to depressive symptoms, including mood, sleep, energy, attention, guilt, appetite, interest, outlook, and self-harm thoughts. Results can support structured self-reflection about your current symptom profile.

Questions: 7214 minutes

Depression Symptom and Severity Questionnaire: sample question card

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

36,781 view

6,854 completions

3,095 likes

Daniel Hall Psychologist · Test reviewer

3,095 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

Defensiveness/DissimulationD

Measures the tendency to underreport, minimize, or conceal depressive symptoms, which can affect the interpretability of results.

example score3/6

3/6Low dissimulationexample score

0 – 3Low dissimulation

4 – 6Elevated dissimulation

A score of 3 falls in the Low dissimulation range, suggesting little indication of deliberate underreporting on this validity scale.

Symptom Exaggeration/MalingeringSE

Assesses the tendency to exaggerate or simulate depressive symptoms, which can affect the reliability of the questionnaire results.

example score3/6

3/6Typical respondingexample score

0 – 3Typical responding

4Elevated exaggeration risk

5 – 6High simulation risk

A score of 3 falls in the Typical responding range, suggesting no notable tendency to exaggerate symptoms on this control scale.

Decreased AppetiteDA

Assesses the extent of reduced appetite as a depressive symptom.

example score4/6

4/6None to mildexample score

0 – 4None to mild

5 – 6Clinically significant

A score of 4 indicates none to mild reduced appetite and falls below the level considered significant on this scale.

Sleep DisturbanceSD

Measures the severity of sleep disruption that may accompany depressive symptoms.

example score3/6

3/6None to mildexample score

0 – 4None to mild

5 – 6Significant

A score of 3 falls in the none-to-mild range, suggesting limited sleep disturbance on this scale.

Self-Harm IdeationSHI

Assesses the presence and intensity of thoughts or behaviors related to self-harm or suicide as an additional symptom of depression.

example score2/6

2/6None/Lowexample score

0 – 4None/Low

5 – 6Clinically significant

A score of 2 falls in the None/Low range, suggesting little to no endorsement of self-harm or suicidal thoughts/behaviors on this scale.

Guilt IdeationGI

Measures the intensity of guilt and self-deprecating thoughts as a depressive symptom dimension.

example score3/6

3/6Lowexample score

0 – 3Low

4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 3 falls in the Low range, suggesting guilt-related and self-deprecating thoughts are present at a low intensity.

Low Self-EsteemLSE

Measures reduced self-esteem and confidence that can accompany depressive states.

example score3/6

3/6Within typical rangeexample score

0 – 4Within typical range

5 – 6Clinically significant

A score of 3 falls within the typical range, suggesting low self-esteem is not prominent on this scale.

Reduced AttentionRA

Measures reductions in the ability to concentrate and sustain attention as a depressive-associated symptom.

example score3/6

3/6None/minimalexample score

0 – 4None/minimal

5 – 6Symptom present

A score of 3 falls in the none/minimal range, suggesting no notable reduction in attention on this scale.

Decreased EnergyDE

Assesses the extent of reduced energy and increased fatigue associated with depressive symptoms.

example score1/6

1/6Low/noneexample score

0 – 4Low/none

5 – 6Significant

A score of 1 falls in the Low/none range, suggesting minimal reported fatigue or energy reduction on this scale.

Loss of InterestLoI

Measures the degree of reduced interest and diminished capacity to experience pleasure associated with depressive states.

example score3/6

3/6Lowexample score

0 – 3Low

4 – 6Elevated

A score of 3 suggests a low level of loss of interests, with some reduction in enjoyment or engagement but not pronounced.

Depressed MoodDM

Assesses the intensity of lowered mood as a core depressive symptom, with higher scores indicating more pronounced low mood.

example score1/6

1/6Minimalexample score

0 – 4Minimal

5 – 6Significant

A score of 1 falls in the Minimal range, indicating low mood is currently reported at a low level on this scale.

Bleak View of the FutureBVotF

Measures the degree of pessimistic, gloomy expectations about the future as a depressive symptom indicator.

example score4/6

4/6Moderateexample score

0 – 3Low

4Moderate

5 – 6Significant

A score of 4 indicates a moderate gloomy outlook on the future, below the level typically considered clinically significant on this scale.

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Clients in therapy

44%OF USERS

People already seeing a psychologist or psychotherapist take it to clarify their current symptoms and track change over sessions.

People with persistent low mood

33%OF USERS

Individuals who suspect depression use it to identify which symptoms they have and how severe they feel.

Clinicians screening new referrals

23%OF USERS

Mental health professionals use it at intake to quickly map symptom patterns and decide on an initial treatment plan.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

Secrecy/DissimulationS

You?

Average2.5

Typical rangeTypical1.6 – 3.5

Possible0 – 6

Aggravation/SimulationA

You?

Average2.4

Typical rangeTypical1.3 – 3.4

Possible0 – 6

Reduced appetiteRa

You?

Average2

Typical rangeTypical0.9 – 3

Possible0 – 6

Disrupted SleepDS

You?

Average1.9

Typical rangeTypical1.1 – 2.6

Possible0 – 6

Self-harm ideasSi

You?

Average4.3

Typical rangeTypical3.2 – 5.3

Possible0 – 6

Ideas of GuiltIoG

You?

Average2.7

Typical rangeTypical1.9 – 3.5

Possible0 – 6

Low Self-EsteemLS

You?

Average2.3

Typical rangeTypical1.3 – 3.2

Possible0 – 6

Reduced attentionRa

You?

Average2.8

Typical rangeTypical1.8 – 3.8

Possible0 – 6

Reduced Energy LevelsREL

You?

Average4.5

Typical rangeTypical3.5 – 5.5

Possible0 – 6

Loss of InterestsLoI

You?

Average3.5

Typical rangeTypical2.7 – 4.3

Possible0 – 6

Low moodLm

You?

Average4.2

Typical rangeTypical3.1 – 5.2

Possible0 – 6

A Gloomy Vision of the FutureAGVotF

You?

Average2.7

Typical rangeTypical1.8 – 3.7

Possible0 – 6

Featured On

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Please read the statements below carefully and rate the extent to which they reflect your recent condition. Respond as quickly as possible, without spending too much time thinking. If you find it difficult to clearly agree or disagree with a statement, select the response option you are more inclined toward. Please answer as honestly and candidly as possible, as this will help to better understand your difficulties and, if necessary, provide appropriate professional assistance.

- True, I agree
- False, I disagree
- True; I agree
- Not true; I disagree
- True
- False

These are 3 of the 72 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Depression Symptom and Severity Questionnaire Test - Description and methodology of the test

depression

People who want a structured view of current experiences associated with depression may use the Depression Symptom and Severity Questionnaire Test to organize concerns into a symptom profile. It is suited to self-reflection when mood, sleep, energy, concentration, guilt, outlook, interest, appetite, or safety-related thoughts feel relevant. A depression symptoms questionnaire can make patterns easier to notice and discuss.

What the Test Measures

For readers, a depression severity questionnaire separates emotional, cognitive, physical, motivational, and response-style features. Dimensions are:

Emotional/self-evaluative scales include Depressed Mood 0-6 [Minimal 0-4/Significant 5-6]; Bleak View of the Future 0-6 [Low 0-3/Moderate 4-4/Significant 5-6]; Guilt Ideation 0-6 [Low 0-3/Moderate 4-4/High 5-6]; Low Self-Esteem 0-6 [Within typical range 0-4/Clinically significant 5-6].
Physical/motivational scales include Decreased Appetite 0-6 [None to mild 0-4/Clinically significant 5-6]; Sleep Disturbance 0-6 [None to mild 0-4/Significant 5-6]; Decreased Energy 0-6 [Low/none 0-4/Significant 5-6]; Loss of Interest 0-6 [Low 0-3/Elevated 4-6].
Attention/safety/validity scales include Reduced Attention 0-6 [None/minimal 0-4/Symptom present 5-6]; Self-Harm Ideation 0-6 [None/Low 0-4/Clinically significant 5-6]; Defensiveness/Dissimulation 0-6 [Low dissimulation 0-3/Elevated dissimulation 4-6]; Symptom Exaggeration/Malingering 0-6 [Typical responding 0-3/Elevated exaggeration risk 4-4/High simulation risk 5-6].

Methodology and Evidence Base

Within a depression symptom assessment, each statement uses a binary response-typically true/agree or false/disagree, sometimes displayed as 1 or 2. Responses are combined into separate symptom and validity scores, so the result is a pattern across dimensions rather than a single total. Honest, current appraisal matters because recall, ambiguity, and response style can alter the profile.

OSGD (Raspopin, 2011) is the closest conceptual source, linking depressive symptom content with response-credibility checks. The themes also align with depressive symptom descriptions in ICD-10. Beck Depression Inventory research provides context for self-report measurement, but this questionnaire is not the BDI or a validated adaptation of it.

Interpretation should follow the stated definitions and displayed bands: higher symptom scores indicate greater prominence where stated, while elevated validity scores can make results less reliable. This online version is best treated as a structured self-report profile rather than a standardized diagnostic instrument. Current mood, stress, self-awareness, and disclosure style can influence answers, so context is needed before broader conclusions.

Author: Aaron T. Beck

Literature:

Raspopin, Evgeny V. (2011). Questionnaire of Symptoms and Depth of Depression (OSGD). Psychological Diagnostics, No. 3, pp. 58-74.
World Health Organization. (1992). The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Beck, Aaron T., Steer, Robert A., & Carbin, Margery G. (1988). Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory: Twenty-five years of evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review, 8(1), 77-100. 10.1016/0272-7358(88)90050-5

Updated: 2025-10-02