Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS)
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale
Been feeling low, tired, or losing interest in things you used to enjoy? The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) uses 20 items covering affective, somatic, and psychological symptoms.
Feeling down, tired, or not interested in things you used to enjoy? The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) is a 20-item questionnaire that tries to measure where your mood sits right now.
Dr. William Zung created it in 1965, and it has been used widely ever since — partly because it is short, partly because it covers more than just mood. The 20 items split across three areas: affective symptoms (feeling sad or empty), somatic symptoms (sleep trouble, fatigue, appetite changes), and psychological symptoms (hopelessness, irritability, emptiness).
You rate each item on a 4-point scale from "a little of the time" to "most of the time." Ten items are worded positively and scored in reverse, which keeps you from falling into a response groove. The raw score ranges from 20 to 80. A score below 50 is considered normal; 50–59 points to mild depression; 60–69 suggests moderate depression; and 70+ indicates severe depression.
The SDS is a screening tool, not a clinical diagnosis. It correlates reasonably well with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton scale (around r=0.70–0.80), but it tends to pick up general distress more than it distinguishes depression from anxiety. If your score comes back high, the next step would be a proper clinical interview — the SDS alone should not be the final word.
It takes about 8 minutes to complete.
Scoring Guide
Standard score = raw score × 1.25. < 50 normal, 50-59 mild depression, 60-69 moderate depression, ≥ 70 severe depression.Result Interpretation
Finish the 20 questions and you get your results straight away — no account, no sign-up, no waiting.
We calculate your total from your answers, then give you a plain-language explanation of what the numbers mean. Whenever possible, we also show how your results compare to population norms.
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