Assessment tool — The nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a self-report, standardized, depression rating scale that can be used to diagnose major depression and measure its severity ( table 1 ) [ 15,16 - . It can also be used for measurement based care to ascertain response to treatment (medication or psychotherapy). A score of >20 on the PHQ-9 indicates severe depression, whereas a score <6 indicates remission. A decrease ≥ 50 percent indicates a significant clinical response. (See "Using scales to monitor symptoms and treatment of depression (measurement based care)", section on 'Patient Health Questionnaire - Nine Item'.) http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=118039 - Depression Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Fear worsens whenever we draw back from it. These can help you a lot during on attack. One may also come under some sort of genetic influence. Now that is pretty normal, but if these episodes of extreme panic become more and more recurring then it's called a panic disorder. Either way both are powerful enough to destroy. Or that the fear, that unrelenting feeling of dread - is always present, making any decision, a nightmare.
