masennuslaskun

Masennuslasku (genitive form masennuslaskun) is a Finnish term that translates roughly as "depression calculation" and refers to attempts to quantify the impact of depressive symptoms. The term is not an established medical diagnosis or a single standardized measurement; rather, it is used informally to describe efforts to measure the burden or severity of depression in various contexts.

In clinical and research settings, depressive severity is typically assessed with validated tools such as the PHQ-9, MADRS, or HAM-D. These instruments provide numeric scores that reflect symptom intensity, but they are not commonly referred to as masennuslasku. In other contexts, masennuslasku can describe estimates of the broader burden of depression, including economic costs, productivity loss, and impacts on quality of life.

The concept highlights the broader consequences of depressive disorders beyond mood symptoms, recognizing functional impairment and societal costs. Because masennuslasku is not a standardized term, its precise meaning can vary between writers, clinicians, and policymakers, which can complicate comparisons across sources.

Critics note that attempting to summarize depression with a single number or calculation may oversimplify individual experiences and overlook factors such as course, comorbidity, and personal resilience. Despite its informal status, the idea of masennuslasku contributes to discussions about measuring and addressing the overall burden of depression.

See also: mental health measurement, burden of disease, PHQ-9, MADRS, HAM-D, health economics.