Care for mental health begins with an understanding of exactly what you are feeling. Sometimes it is difficult for us to describe our state in words: we simply feel fatigue, tension, or a loss of joy. For such cases, psychometric tests exist in evidence-based medicine.
Unlike most other branches of medicine, in psychiatry, there are no familiar instrumental examinations. We cannot send a patient for an X-ray to see depression, or prescribe a blood test to measure the level of anxiety.
In the overwhelming majority of cases, a diagnosis is made on the basis of a clinical interview — a detailed, careful, and structured conversation, during which the doctor collects the history of your life and illness. In psychiatry, it is precisely the conversation that is our main diagnostic tool. But how to measure that which cannot be touched? How can the doctor and the patient himself understand how severe the condition is right now? And most importantly — how to objectively evaluate whether the prescribed treatment is helping?
Within the framework of evidence-based medicine, standardized scales and questionnaires replace for us the "thermometer" or "tonometer." They help us measure the "temperature" of your psychological state.
Several of these questionnaires are available on our psychiatrist’s website, where you can complete them online: https://drkutateladze.com/
Assessments for the Evaluation of Anxiety and Stress
Beck Anxiety Scale
This is one of the most popular questionnaires in the world for the self-assessment of anxiety. It excellently helps to distinguish anxiety from depression (which often go hand in hand).
Primarily, the test focuses on the bodily (somatic) manifestations of anxiety. If you frequently feel an increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, a lack of air, or a fear of losing control — this test will help to assess how strongly these symptoms affect your life.
Hamilton Anxiety Scale
A classic instrument that was historically used by physicians during appointments, but has also been adapted for self-administration. It provides a broader picture of your anxiety.
Unlike the Beck scale, this test captures both physical symptoms (muscle tension, sleep disturbances, palpitations) and psychological ones (constant worries, fears, an inability to relax, problems with concentration of attention).
Tests for the Evaluation of Depression
Beck Depression Scale
The gold standard of depression self-diagnosis worldwide. If you feel that you have lost the taste for life, this test is an excellent starting point before booking an appointment with a specialist.
It measures the depth of the depressive state: from mild blues to severe depression. It evaluates your thoughts (guilt, pessimism), emotions (sadness, irritability), and physical changes (loss of energy, appetite, sleep disturbances).
Montgomery-Asberg Scale
Clinicians strongly favor using this test for tracking dynamics. It is incredibly sensitive even to the smallest changes in your condition.
It focuses on key symptoms of depression: internal tension, visible and hidden sadness, the ability to enjoy familiar things, appetite, and sleep. If you are already undergoing treatment, this test will excellently show how well the antidepressants or psychotherapy are working.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
A special and very gentle questionnaire, created exclusively for pregnant women and young mothers.
Postpartum depression is one of the most severe disorders specifically according to the woman’s subjective sensations. It helps to assess the emotional state of a woman during this vulnerable period. The uniqueness of the test lies in the fact that it excludes physical symptoms (such as fatigue or lack of sleep), because for a young mother they are absolutely normal! The test seeks specifically signs of emotional pain, anxiety, tearfulness, and the feeling that the woman «is not coping».
Complex and Specialized Tests
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale
A «3-in-1» option if you do not know which test to take first and simply feel that you are unwell.
It provides three indicators at once and will show exactly what prevails in your state right now:
- Depression (loss of interest, apathy)
- Anxiety (fear, panic, bodily reactions)
- Stress (chronic tension, irritability, inability to relax)
Yale-Brown Scale for the Evaluation of OCD Symptoms
One of the reliable instruments in evidence-based medicine for the identification and evaluation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The test divides symptoms into two parts: obsessions (intrusive, frightening thoughts that revolve in the head) and compulsions (intrusive actions or rituals that you perform to reduce anxiety). The questionnaire measures how much time these symptoms take from you every day and how severely they interfere with living normally.
Important reminder: not a single test in the world establishes a diagnosis. High scores in the results are not a reason for panic, but merely a signal from your organism that it needs support. The final diagnosis and treatment plan can be determined only by a psychiatrist, during a personal consultation, by correlating the test results with your history.
Take the tests in a calm environment, answer honestly (only you and your attending physician see the results) and remember: any condition is amenable to correction if help is sought in a timely manner.