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What is depression?

Recognise signs of depression
and do the self-test.

without waiting time

Depression

The word “depressive” is often used in everyday life, for example to describe a bad mood or lack of motivation. At the same time, genuine depression is often underestimated or misunderstood by outsiders – and concealed by those affected out of shame or insecurity.

In the medical sense, depression is a serious mental illness that affects the way we feel, think and act. It is accompanied by changes in brain and body function and can severely affect everyday life. It is typically a combination of several symptoms that last at least 2 weeks and vary in severity from person to person.

The symptoms of depression are varied and individual.


In the overview you will find possible psychological and physical signs of depression.

  • Clearly depressed mood
  • Loss of interest/lack of joy
  • Listlessness/exhaustion

  • Reduced concentration and attention
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sleep disorders
  • Reduced self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Feelings of guilt
  • Negative thoughts about the future, hopelessness
  • Constant brooding
  • Diffuse pain or discomfort
  • Inner restlessness or anxiety
  • Suicidal thoughts

If you have been experiencing some of these symptoms for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression. You can check your suspicions with our self-test.

Depression: self-test using a questionnaire

We use the PHQ-9 patient questionnaire for our self-test. It is a questionnaire developed by scientists to help you recognise depressive symptoms at an early stage and assess their severity. With the PHQ-9, you can get an initial assessment of your symptoms in just a few minutes.

Tip: Use your result as the basis for a medical or psychotherapeutic consultation. It can help you to describe your personal situation in more detail.

Take the self-test now

Causes and course of depression

Just like the symptoms, the causes of depression are varied and very individual.
For example, the following can contribute to the development of depression:

Life circumstances and stressful events

Biological processes in the body

(e.g. hormonal changes)

Hereditary disposition

Stress and loneliness

Course of depression

Depression progresses in episodes, i.e. phases in which depressive symptoms occur. These episodes can last from two weeks up to two years – after two years, they are referred to as chronic depression. The duration and severity of depression also depend heavily on the individual person and their situation.

The good news

Early diagnosis and subsequent therapy usually have a positive influence on the course of the depression. Many people notice a significant improvement in their symptoms after just 3 to 6 months of therapy. Which form of therapy is right for you, depends (among other things) on the severity of your depression.

More on treatment options

References/sources:

AWMF: S3-Leitlinie Nationale VersorgungsLeitlinie Unipolare Depression. Available online: https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/nvl-005 (accessed on 05/14/2025)

Bundesministerium für Gesundheit: Depression. Available online: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/themen/praevention/gesundheitsgefahren/depression.html (accessed on 03/18/2025).

gesund.bund.de: Depression. Available online: https://gesund.bund.de/depression (accessed on 03/18/2025).

Your mental health is our topic

The topics of depression and mental health are so complex that you may still have some unanswered questions on your mind. How do support groups work? What is winter depression? And how can exercise help with my depression? We provide answers to these and many other questions in our blog. Have a look!

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