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Table 1 The Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS)

From: Dealing with missing data in a multi-question depression scale: a comparison of imputation methods

 

None or a little of the time

Some of the time

Good part of the time

Most of the time

1. I feel down-hearted, blue, and sad.

1

2

3

4

2. Morning is when I feel the best.

4

3

2

1

3. I have crying spells or feel like it.

1

2

3

4

4. I have trouble sleeping through the night.

1

2

3

4

5. I eat as much as I used to.

4

3

2

1

6. I enjoy looking at, talking to, and being with attractive men/women.

4

3

2

1

7. I notice that I am losing weight.

1

2

3

4

8. I have trouble with constipation.

1

2

3

4

9. My heart beats faster than usual.

1

2

3

4

10. I get tired for no reason.

1

2

3

4

11. My mind is as clear as it used to be.

4

3

2

1

12. I find it easy to do the things I used to.

4

3

2

1

13. I am restless and can't keep still.

1

2

3

4

14. I feel hopeful about the future.

4

3

2

1

15. I am more irritable than usual.

1

2

3

4

16. I find it easy to make decisions.

4

3

2

1

17. I feel that I am useful and needed.

4

3

2

1

18. My life is pretty full.

4

3

2

1

19. I feel that others would be better off if I were dead.

1

2

3

4

20. I still enjoy the things I used to do.

4

3

2

1

  1. Scoring – The total score is calculated by adding the responses to the 20 questions. The maximum total is 80 (20 statements with a highest possible score of 4 each). The score is then converted into a total out of 100 by dividing the respondent's sum by 0.8. The cut points for the scale are:
  2. (1) < 50 : normal range
  3. (2) 50 – 59 : minimal or mild depression
  4. (3) 60 – 69 : moderate to marked depression
  5. (4) > 70 : severe depression