Expert System for The Diagnosis of Depression in Students Using Certainty Factor Method: A Case Study of Ngudi Waluyo University

Abstract

Depression is a growing mental health concern among university students, often fueled by academic pressure, social demands, and personal stress. This study presents the development of an expert system using the Certainty Factor (CF) method to diagnose depression specifically among students at Ngudi Waluyo University. The system categorizes depression into mild, moderate, and severe levels based on 12 validated symptom statements and expert-defined diagnostic rules. Implemented with PHP, JavaScript, and CSS, the system offers a user-friendly, accessible, and anonymous platform for self-assessment. Testing yielded an accuracy rate of up to 79% in diagnosing depression severity and a 71.7% user satisfaction rate based on a User Acceptance Test (UAT) involving 32 students. Results demonstrate that the system can effectively support early detection and mental health awareness within academic environments. Despite some limitations in UI and feedback depth, the expert system shows strong potential for broader application and further enhancement.

Keywords

• depression diagnosis, expert system, certainty factor, mental health, university students