Mental health test goes viral on Tiktok; see if it works – 04/04/2023 – Equilibrium

Psychological tests on mental health have won Tiktok and other social networks in recent weeks, repeating a phenomenon seen in 2022. The most famous of them measures levels of depression, anxiety and stress through 21 questions asked in a clinically applied questionnaire. Experts consider, however, that the diagnosis and treatment must be carried out and monitored by a psychology or psychiatry professional.

User reactions show that mental health is an attractive issue, especially with younger audiences. “Mine gave me severe depression, severe anxiety and severe stress. I did not expect this result, I was and still am very scared”, reported Sofia Melo in Kamili Santos’ publication.

The video of Santos counting the index obtained in the DASS-21 test (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) has already had 15,500 views, 65,400 likes and more than 2,000 comments. The questionnaire is one of the most used and was created in 1995 by psychologists at the University of New South Wales.

Validated in 2013 for the Brazilian public, it has since been adapted by several studies. One of them, published in 2016 by researchers from UFRGS (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul), investigated how the 21 questions of the DASS-21 could help measure the intensity of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in adolescents.

After evaluating 426 young people aged 12 to 18 from public schools in Porto Alegre (RS) with the questionnaire, they named the version as EDAE-A (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale for Adolescents) and found that the highest average occurred among girls .

“Regarding the age group, younger adolescents (12 to 15 years old) and older adolescents (16 to 18 years old) did not differ. Regarding the differences between the sexes, this aspect may be related to gender stereotypes, which demonstrate specificities regarding the girls’ mental health”, emphasize the researchers.

Neuropsychologist Bruno Moraes de Souza made the test available on his professional website, but reinforces that the questionnaire is an informative tool and was not published with the purpose of attracting patients or generating profit.

“It is content that aims to equip people to understand if they are showing signs that they need to seek psychological care. We make it very clear that the tests are not for diagnosis, but for a general symptomatic survey”, he says.

Souza also recalls that psychology has a code of ethics that aims to prevent the use of scientific techniques or concepts from psychology in marketing practices. The diffusion of the test, however, is believed to be positive if well oriented.

“When a person finds himself in a frame of psychological imbalance, it is natural for him to seek information to understand what is happening to him. Offering the population basic knowledge about psychological imbalances not only equips the person to seek professional help and improve their quality of life, how it prevents the patient from living with a disease without knowing that there is an alternative treatment”, says Souza.

Doctor Rodrigo Huguet, psychiatrist and member of the board of directors of AMP (Associação Mineira de Psiquiatria), reinforces that the questionnaire is not capable of bringing a diagnosis, but a sign that it is time to pay attention to mental health.

“If the person takes a test, it may be an indication that he may have depression, he may have an anxiety disorder, but it does not give the diagnosis. If he is feeling emotional symptoms that last a long time, more than two weeks or that are causing a lot of suffering and does not have a context that justifies it, we refer you to a specialist”, says Huguet.

The doctor says that more than answering an online test punctually, the person needs to observe himself, noting if he is very distressed, anxious, sad, discouraged or with bad thoughts. Anxiety crises and fear of leaving home are other points of attention.

“To have the diagnosis, you have to look for a professional and talk to him, because it is the professional who will really bring a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, and indicate the best treatment”, he concludes.