Sometimes you have to wonder, “What were they thinking?”
Jim Edwards, writing for bnet, notes how when he took the WebMD depression test (here), it always told him he might be at risk for depression. Even if you answered all 10 questions …
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Site last updated: 25 May 2012
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Awful.
Dear Dr. Grohol,
I don’t think you paid attention to your answers when you took WebMD’s depression check. I took it myself and it turns out WebMD does not think I am depressed, not even a little bit. I have been a long-time fan of WebMD for years. They have the best information around and I pay close attention to their site and how they try to give us common people great info.
You are not a big fan of these online quizzes? Really? Then why did you give us a link to YOUR online quiz? And oddly enough your quiz has ads on it. Guess what? Ads for Cymbalta. Who makes cybalta? Eli Lilly. At least WebMD tells everyone up front and your page does not even say it is ads at the bottom. Something tells me you did not let them advertise on your depression quizzes for free. And you are not a big fan of these online quizzes but you have at least 5 depression quizzes on your own site. WebMD is a great web site with information that we can trust. I am not so sure about your site.
Shame on you.
The whole sentence said I was not a big fan of these quizzes on big health websites, developed by non-psychologists. Taking words out of context is not helpful.
If your screen did not say “Lower risk,” then they changed it again. The fact is, you are not at any risk for depression if you answer all of the questions “No.” No more risk than you are for any other mental health issue.
Yes, we have a multitude of advertisers. The difference is, they don’t dictate or influence our content. So we don’t have any disease-mongering on our site, or scare tactics. A screening should be an objective and validated screening — nothing more, nothing less.
Dan Carlat talks of this very same matter in his blog today at The Carlat Report, and he points out a very important question that has little to nothing to do with depression as a screening goes:
pain issues are not specific to depression, but, if Lilly who makes Cymbalta has its way, asking about it in the same context with depression seems to be leading one to look for it, especially through a non-psychiatric provider who can write prescriptions.
Read his point for more details. As a psychiatrist, I just want to advise readers my perspective, in the sea of many in mental health: Pills do not give you skills, and with these newer Brand name drugs who are still trying to give a profit margin to their companies, be wary when the company has its name attached to an “alleged” public service. Who it really serves is what should be transparent.
Still too much opacity at hand. And what the metaphor about health care reform measures being “negotiated behind closed doors”. Doors without glass.
There are many reasons that a website can simply screw up. Unfortunately having treated depression, it’s quite possible that many people can have a problem with depression. Now add the current problems with the US economy, and our being in at least 2 wars. Many men avoid treatment when they experience clinical depression. Most women with depression do seek treatment. Let me warn anyone who is not a doctor or a psychologist, simply looking for your own diagnosis on one of the popular medical sites can cause you to develope symptoms that aren’t actually yours. It’s called Internist Syndrome I believe. It got it’s name from the phenomena of medical interns developing the symptoms they were treating. It also happens in psychology. If you have taken such a test on the internet, see a professional. You may be surprised at how many people actually do have symptoms of depression. Fortunately, in Psychology there are a number of criteria that one must exhibit to warrant a diagnosis of depression. So it’s quite possible to have some symptoms of depression and not meet the criteria for clinical depression. As far as ads go on the internet, it’s always best to see a professional who is experienced in diagnosing and treating depression. Depression is not a do it yourself concept. And no a minor in Psychology or a few classes do not make you a professional in the field. Good luck.
I just wrote a post about this topic, and my derived bottom-line is that The WebMD Health Network is low on quality, ethics-poor, and not to be trusted.
Im wandering if i should go see a mental health doc bc im constantly thinking i have an illness such as hiv or cancer which shouldnt be possible cuz i havent had sexual relations in over 2yrs but yet it never leaves my mind. When im around people im quiet and hands strt sweating etc real nervous ovr nothn, i also never leave my house and would rather not associate with anyone. Im 22 and would really appreciate it if u can tell me smthn lol nethng