Depression / Anxiety Impairment Online Questionnaire
Depression / Anxiety Impairment Printable Questionnaire
Mood and anxiety disorders are common, and the mortality risk is due primarily to suicide, cardiovascular disease, and substance abuse. Risk is highest early in the course of the disorder or within 2 years of a hospitalization.
Mood disorders are divided into Depressive Disorders (unipolar) and Bipolar Disorders (manic depressive). Dysthymia is chronic low-grade depression that does not meet the criteria for Major Depression. Criteria for Major Depression require a history of depressed mood for at least 2 weeks plus 4 or more of the following: weight change, sleep disturbance, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating, or suicidal ideation. To meet the criteria for Bipolar Disorder, there must be a history of at least one episode of mania (abnormal elevated/irritable mood) in addition to the Major Depression criteria.
Anxiety disorders include panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, social anxiety disorder (SAD), simple phobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms include worry and nervousness, racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness, sweats, headache, insomnia, and other vague complaints. Depressive disorders often overlap with anxiety disorders, and in the long term, many patients continue to have symptoms. Recurrences are common for both mood and anxiety disorders.
Drug therapy (with or without counseling) is effective in treating most individuals. The mainstay of therapy for both anxiety and mood disorders is antidepressant drugs. For more severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or anti-psychotic agents may be required. If anxiety is present, treatment may include benzodiazepines and buspirone. Benzodiazepines are addicting and underwriting caution is necessary, especially in those prone to substance abuse. Bipolar disorder (manic depression) is usually treated with Lithium.
| Mild | No suicidal ideation for 1 year, able to perform normal activities within minimal symptoms on 0-1 medication (no antipsychotic agent), rare anxiety attacks, no ECT for greater than 19 years, no hospitalization, suicide attempts, or disability for greater than 9 years | Non-rated |
| Moderate | No suicidal ideation for 6 months, able to perform normal activities with minimal to moderate symptoms on 0-3 medications (no antipsychotic agents), single episode of disability of short duration, no hospitalization, suicide attempts, or disability for greater than 9 years | Table B |
| Severe | Significant symptoms, reuqires antipsychotic medication, long episodes(s) of disability, single suicide attempt, ECT/hospitalization(s) | Higher rating for those with multiple severe episodes
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Applicants under age 18, with a history of drug or alcohol abuse, with psychotic conditions, with multiple suicide attempts, or with frequent panic attacks will be given individual consideration.