Depression & Social Phobia Checklist

Between 10-15% of people will experience a major depressive episode at some stage in their lives.
Major depression is characterized by persistent low mood and loss of enjoyment. Its features include:

• Low mood or feelings of sadness or irritability, most of the time. The mood may be worse at certain times of day, typically in the morning.

• Loss of interest in one's surroundings, loss of enjoyment in activities, decreased sex drive.

• Sleep disturbance: difficulty getting off to sleep, or waking in the early hours of the morning and finding yourself unable to get back to sleep.

• Negative thoughts regarding yourself, surroundings and future. Often a person may become guilty over real or perceived misdeeds. In severe depressions of a 'psychotic' type, the person may develop untrue beliefs regarding themselves and others, and may experience hallucinations.

• Appetite disturbance: increase or decreased, which may be accompanied by weight changes.

• Fatigue and loss of energy

• Physical symptoms such as vague abdominal discomfort and headaches, often associated with anxiety.

• Problems with concentration and memory difficulties.

• Feelings of agitation or feeling 'slowed down'.

• Thoughts of death or suicide: such thoughts indicate the need for professional help.

Social phobia is a fear of social situations that involve interactions with other people. If you have social phobia you tend to worry about being judged badly by other people - being criticised, "put down" or embarrassed. It is equally common in men and women and is found across different cultures. Approximately 3 percent of the population suffer from social phobia.

Some typical social situations feared by people with social phobia include:

• Speaking in a group

• Giving a presentation or speech

• Meeting new people

• Being introduced

• Talking to someone in authority

• Being observed doing an activity

• Eating or drinking in public

• Using the telephone

• Going to a party

• Expressing your opinion

• Returning faulty goods

• Using public toilets

• Being the centre of attention

• Speaking to someone you're attracted to

Extracted from:  Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety & Depression .. www.crufad.org
* All information is intended as a guide only and should be used in association with your health professional
Anxiety & Depression resources: www.nevdgp.org.au/depression.htm