Instructions for Clinaptica Depression Consultant App for iPad
After purchasing the app from the App Store on your iPad, tap its icon 
to open the app. You can position the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode to use it.
You will see the splash screen briefly as the app loads.
Next you will see the intoductory screen. 
Touch "Take Test" to continue.
Next you will see the Disclaimer screen.
Touch "Agree" when you are ready to proceed.
Carefully follow instructions at the top of each of the subsequent screens.
The first screen asks you to compare how ANXIOUS you have been feeling on average OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS with how anxious you feel AT YOUR USUAL BEST, in other words, your most "normal." This is very important because some people, who have used the app previously, compare themselves to how they felt the last time they used it, when they may have been feeling worse than usual. People feeling their best should answer "Same as usual." Only when someone is feeling A LOT LESS ANXIOUS than their usual best self, would they answer "A lot less than usual" to this item.
The instructions also indicate that you may compare how you have been feeling lately to your idea of HOW PEOPLE FEEL AT THEIR USUAL BEST. This should be done ONLY if you believe you have never felt "normal" in your entire life.
For the app to work, it is important that every time you use it, you compare yourself to the same "usual" way of feeling.
When you have decided on the best answer, touch the corresponding button (For example: "A lot more than usual"). It will turn blue. If you change your mind and touch another button, that button will turn blue instead. The word "Continue" will appear on the bottom right of the screen. Touching "Continue" won't do anything! You will need to SLIDE THE SCREEN TO THE LEFT to continue to the next item.
If you don't feel any of the buttons quite applies and would like to answer, say, slightly less than "A lot more than usual", you can touch the button on the slider bar and drag it to the spot that seems more accurate to you.
After moving the screen you have just completed to the left (making sure your finger is away from the slider bar), you will see the next item. If you need to change an answer, you can slide the screens to the right to return to previous items. It is best not to hurry when moving the screens backwards to give the iPad time to process the screens. When moving forward through the items, check the instructions at the top of each screen. When you get to Items 16 and 17, you will see different instructions.
Here you are being asked to choose the item that best describes how you are feeling NOW. Answer accordingly by touching one of the three buttons. Again the slider is available to make your answer more specific. When finished, slide the screen to the left. Item 17 should be completed similarly.
The next screen asks you to indicate whether or not you are taking an antidepressant.
Since most antidepressants require 2 to 4 weeks to work, it might be best to touch "No" if you just began taking one, but haven't noticed any change. Answer "No" as well, of course, if are not taking one at all. Otherwise, touch "Yes."
If you touch "No", you will skip to the Basic Results screen below. If you touch "Yes", you'll see this busy screen that asks you to indicate which antidepressant you're taking. Take a breath and begin looking for yours. As you can see, there are four buttons. Unlike any other screen, you can select any or all of the buttons. That means that if you are taking just one antidepressant, like most people, you would touch only one button. It will turn blue and you can proceed to the next screen. The most common antidepressants are those listed in the first button -- the SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Each one is listed with its generic name first and common American brand name after (in parentheses). The second button is for the NDRIs, the least numerous group (Norepinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors.) If you are taking an SSRI and an NDRI, a frequent combination of antidepressants, touch both the SSRI and NDRI buttons and make sure both are blue before continuing to the next screen. The third button is for the SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) and NaSSAs (Noradrenergic and Selective Serotonergic Antagonists). These antidepressants function somewhat similarly to the combination of SSRIs and NDRIs, insofar as they increase both serotonin and norepinephrine activity. The fourth button is for all the other antidepressants, particularly the TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants) and the MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). If you are receiving antidepressants from three or four groups, be sure to touch all appropriate buttons before proceeding to the next screen.
The Basic Results screen provides an overview of your results. If you are not not taking medications, it will say "Possible need for medication detected" or "Possible need for medication not detected. " If you are taking medications, it will say "Possible need for change of medication detected" or "Possible need for change of medication not detected." There are two buttons at the bottom of the screen. Touching the "Detail Screen" button brings you to the Scores/Recommendation screen. Touch "Retake the test" only after you have reviewed and saved your detailed results or if you actually wish to retake the test. (You will have a chance to confirm that you want to retake it, if you accidentally touch that button.)
If the Basic Results screen doesn't indicate a need for medication or a change in medication and you haven't reported higher levels of suicidal thinking than usual, the detailed results will not add any recommendations. Otherwise, there will be suggestions such as those above to show your health professional. There will also be M, A and D scores. You can use the link to the DepressionConsultant.com website for more information and additional tools. To return to the app from the web browser, press the iPad HOME button and tap the app icon. On the Scores/Recommendations screen, touch "Tap for Graph" to see a graphic representation of your scores.
The bar graph shows the need for calming (M score) in red and the need for activation (A score) in blue. When above normal (6 or higher), the A and M scores will also be shown in those colors. Normal scores are presented in white. Further details are shown in the key at the top of the graph.
You can return to the previous screen containing the recommendations by touching "Tap for Text."
To save your results, touch "Tap to Save" on either the text or graph Scores/Recommendation screens. Then touch "OK" on the "Results Saved" button.
To send your results to your doctor or other health professional, exit the app by pressing the iPad's HOME button. Tap the "Photos" icon and locate the last picture taken, which will be your results. Tap the icon for sharing the image and select the method you prefer such as email. The Depression Consultant app protects your privacy by including no identifying data about you anywhere on the app, on any computer or on the saved results image. In order to inform your health professional whose results you are transmitting, we recommend obtaining your medical chart number from your doctor's office and including it in the subject line of your email. If you choose to include your name or any other perrsonal information, remember that the confidentiality of email is not guaranteed.
It is recommended that you also print out a copy of the saved results image for yourself every time you use the app. That way you can track your progress at home, just as your health professional can track it at the office.
After printing your results, it is recommended that you either delete the image from your iPad photo gallery, or use iPhoto on your computer to create an album for filing the results.
Copyright 2012, Scaled Psychiatric Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.