Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) Test
How the Scales are Structured
Who Usually Takes This Test?
See How You Compare
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Example Questions From the Test
- Never or rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Most of the time or all of the time
- Rarely or none of the time
- Some of the time
- Often
- Most of the time or always
- Never or rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Almost always or always
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) Test - Description and methodology of the test
People considering whether to monitor depressive symptoms more systematically may use this assessment when a broad personal impression feels difficult to organize. The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) Test offers a consistent way to record how often experiences occur and review the resulting level. As a depression self-assessment, it can support a decision about whether to track changes, discuss concerns, or gather more information.
What This Assessment Explores
The items cover mood, interest, thinking, motivation, energy, bodily changes, sleep, appetite, agitation, and self-worth. The Zung depression scale organizes reported depressive experiences into a structured self-report result for interpretation.
The result can be read through these thematic groups and score views:
- Emotional and cognitive functioning shows mood, crying, hope, enjoyment, clarity, decisions, usefulness, and interest.
- Physical and behavioural symptoms capture sleep, appetite, weight, fatigue, restlessness, constipation, and heartbeat changes.
- Depression Index (25-100) derives from the raw score for international-norm comparison: below 50, no depression; 50-59, mild depression; 60-69, subdepressive state; 70 or higher, marked depression. Bands: No depression 25-49, Mild depression 50-59, Subdepressive to severe 60-100.
- Raw Score (20-80) reflects symptom severity: below 50, no depression; 50-59, mild depression; 60-69, subdepressive state; 70 or higher, severe depression. Bands: No depression 20-49, Mild depression 50-59, Moderate to severe 60-80.
Methodology and Evidence Base
Methodologically, the test follows the four-option self-report format of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Each statement asks how often an experience occurs, with choices ranging from rarely or none of the time to most or all of the time. In practice, this depression symptom questionnaire turns the 20 responses into a raw total and a derived index; the two views should not be treated as interchangeable.
The published SDS has validation research, including outpatient work by Zung, Richards, and Short. Dunstan and Scott further explain why interpretation can be distorted when raw scores and index scores are confused, so the label attached to the displayed scale matters.
That evidence concerns the source instrument, not necessarily this online administration. Because it is self-report, answers may be influenced by current mood, recent circumstances, memory, self-awareness, and willingness to disclose, so the displayed score is best read alongside broader context.
- Zung, W. W. K. (1965). A Self-Rating Depression Scale. Archives of General Psychiatry, 12(1), 63-70. 10.1001/archpsyc.1965.01720310065008
- Zung, W. W. K., Richards, C. B., & Short, M. J. (1965). Self-Rating Depression Scale in an Outpatient Clinic: Further Validation of the SDS. Archives of General Psychiatry, 13(6), 508-515. 10.1001/archpsyc.1965.01730060026004
- Dunstan, D. A., & Scott, N. (2018). Assigning Clinical Significance and Symptom Severity Using the Zung Scales: Levels of Misclassification Arising from Confusion between Index and Raw Scores. Depression Research and Treatment, 2018, Article 9250972, 13 pages. 10.1155/2018/9250972
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