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This self-assessment Major Depression Inventory (MDI) , was originally developed by Per Bech, Lykke Olsen, Maria Kjoller, and Niels Kristian Rasmussen . TraitProfiler provides an interactive digital version for educational, informational, and self-exploration purposes only.

Major Depression Inventory (MDI)

Background

The Major Depression Inventory (MDI) is a widely used self-report screening instrument developed to assess symptoms commonly associated with depressive disorders and emotional distress.
The MDI focuses on mood symptoms, loss of interest, fatigue, guilt, hopelessness, concentration difficulties, restlessness, slowed behavior, sleep problems, and appetite changes commonly experienced during depressive episodes.
The questionnaire was designed to evaluate both the severity and frequency of depressive symptoms while supporting clinical screening, research, and mental health assessment settings.

Psychological Domains Measured

Depressed Mood
Measures sadness, emotional distress, low mood, and reduced emotional well-being.
Loss of Interest
Measures reduced enjoyment, emotional disengagement, and loss of interest in daily activities.
Fatigue and Low Energy
Measures tiredness, exhaustion, low motivation, and reduced emotional and physical energy.
Self-Confidence
Measures self-esteem, confidence, and feelings of personal adequacy or self-worth.
Guilt and Self-Blame
Measures guilt, self-criticism, negative self-evaluation, and feelings of personal failure.
Hopelessness and Suicidal Thoughts
Measures hopelessness, feelings that life lacks value, and thoughts related to death or self-harm.
Concentration Difficulties
Measures focus problems, distractibility, and difficulties maintaining attention.
Restlessness
Measures agitation, internal tension, nervous energy, and inability to remain calm.
Psychomotor Slowing
Measures slowed thinking, reduced movement, low responsiveness, and behavioral slowing.
Sleep Difficulties
Measures insomnia, nighttime sleep disruption, and difficulty maintaining healthy sleep patterns.
Reduced Appetite
Measures appetite loss, reduced eating motivation, and decreased food intake.
Increased Appetite
Measures increased eating behavior, emotional eating, and appetite elevation.
The MDI is commonly used in psychology, psychiatry, healthcare, research, and mood disorder screening settings. The questionnaire is intended as a screening instrument and should not be used as a standalone diagnostic tool.

Procedure

This questionnaire is designed to be completed by adults and adolescents based on their recent emotional and psychological experiences.

Participants select the response option that best describes how frequently they have experienced each symptom or emotional difficulty.

The assessment focuses on depressive symptoms, emotional well-being, motivation, concentration, sleep, appetite, and psychological distress during recent functioning.

Participation

This assessment is intended for educational, screening, and research purposes only.

Results should not be considered a clinical diagnosis or substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric, or medical evaluation.

Individuals experiencing severe emotional distress, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, or major impairment in daily functioning are strongly encouraged to seek support from a qualified mental health professional or healthcare provider.

Scoring & Interpretation

Responses are scored according to symptom frequency and severity.

Higher scores generally indicate stronger depressive symptoms, emotional distress, fatigue, concentration difficulties, hopelessness, and mood-related impairment.

The MDI is commonly used as a screening tool to help identify individuals who may benefit from additional psychological or psychiatric evaluation.

Major Depression Inventory (MDI) Questionnaire

Instructions & Terms

Below is the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), a digitally adapted 12- items self-assessment questionnaire. This assessment does not provide a clinical diagnosis, medical determination, or substitute for professional psychological evaluation.

Question 1 of 12 Depressed Mood

Have you felt low in spirits or sad?


Question 2 of 12 Loss of Interest

Have you lost interest in your daily activities?


Question 3 of 12 Fatigue and Low Energy

Have you felt lacking in energy and strength?


Question 4 of 12 Self-Confidence

Have you felt less self-confident?


Question 5 of 12 Guilt and Self-Blame

Have you had a bad conscience or feelings of guilt?


Question 6 of 12 Hopelessness and Suicidal Thoughts

Have you felt that life wasn’t worth living?


Question 7 of 12 Concentration Difficulties

Have you had difficulty in concentrating?


Question 8 of 12 Restlessness

Have you felt very restless?


Question 9 of 12 Psychomotor Slowing

Have you felt subdued or slowed down?


Question 10 of 12 Sleep Difficulties

Have you had trouble sleeping at night?


Question 11 of 12 Reduced Appetite

Have you suffered from reduced appetite?


Question 12 of 12 Increased Appetite

Have you suffered from increased appetite?




Psychometric Norms

2
Participants
47%
Community Mean
21.5%
Sample SD
68%
Highest Observed Score
25%
Lowest Observed Score
2026–2026
Collection Period

Current normative data for theCurrent normative data for the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) are derived from 2 anonymous participant responses collected through TraitProfiler between 2026 and 2026. All response data are collected anonymously and are intended exclusively for educational, psychometric, and non-commercial research purposes.

Sources
  1. Bech, P., Rasmussen, N. K., Olsen, L. R., Noerholm, V., & Abildgaard, W. The sensitivity and specificity of the Major Depression Inventory, using the Present State Examination as the index of diagnostic validity.