Beck Depression Inventory
Introduction
The beck depression inventory BDI is a self-report questionnaire used to measure the
intensity, severity and depth of depression.
The BDI was developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, a psychiatric, and released in 1961. The BDI
includes 21 items, each of which corresponds to a symptoms of depression.
History
The BDI was first published in 1961 by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, a psychiatric who is considered
the father of cognition therapy. The BDI was designed to measure the severity of depression,
as well as to serve as a tool for screening for depression.
The original BDI consisted of 21 items, each of which corresponding to a symptoms of
depression. Dr. Beck and his colleagues found that the BDI had good reliability and validity.
The BDI has been widely used in research studies and clinical practice.
In 1996, the BDI was revised to include additional items and to reflect changes in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM. The revised BDI, known as the
BDI-2, is the most widely used version of the questionnaire.
How the Beck Depression Inventory is Used
The BDI is used measure the severity of depression. It can be used to screen for depression
and monitor the course of treatment.
The BDI is not a diagnostic test, but it can be help health care providers make a diagnosis.
For the BDI-2, a score of 10 to 18 indicates mild depression, and 30 or above indicates severe
depression.
Each response is assigned a score ranging from zero to three. Indicating the severity of the
symptoms that the patient has experienced over the past two weeks. Aversion designed for
use by primary care providers is composed of seven self-report items.
The BDI can also be used to monitor the course of treatment. A decrease in scores over time
indicates that the persons symptoms are improving.
Interpreting the Beck Depression Inventory
It is important to keep in mind that the BDI is a self-report measure. This means that it relies
on the individuals own perception of their underestimate their level of distress, while others
may exaggerate their symptoms
If you are concerned about your level of depression, it is important to discuss your symptoms
with a mental health professional.
Test Scores
BDI was used to measure the severity of depression.
Scores Category
5-9 Normal
10-18 Mild
19-29 Moderate
30-63 Sever
Items on the Beck Depression Inventory
The BDI-2 included 21 items, each of which corresponds to a symptoms of depression.
The items are grouped into four categories:
Somatic (physical) symptoms
Affective (emotional) symptoms
Cognitive symptoms
Vegetative symptoms (refers to changes in sleep patterns, and
appetite)
How Reliable Is the BDI
The BDI has good reliability and validity. The test-retest reliability of the BDI-2 ranged from
0.73 to 0.93, which means that the scores are consistent over time. The internal consistency
of the BDI-2 was 0.9, which means that the items on the questionnaire relate to each other
and measure the same construct.
The BDI-2 also has good convergent and discriminant validity. Convergent validity means
that the BDI-2 correlates highly with other measures of depression, such as the BHQ-9.
Discriminant validity means that the BDI-2 does not correlates highly with measures of other
psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety.
Limitations of the Beck Depression Inventory
Researchers have identified several potential limitations of using the BDI in the
measurements of depression.
Here are some of the limitations of the Beck Depression Inventory:
The BDI is a self-report measures. This means that it relies on the individuals own
perception of their symptoms. Not everyone experience depression in the same way,
and some people may have difficulty accurately reporting their symptoms.
The BDI only assesses symptoms of depression. It does not assess other important
factors, such as family history or genetic predisposition.
The BDI is a static measure. This means that it does not take into account changes in
symptoms over time.
The BDI is not specific to any one culture. This means that it may not be as
accurate in measuring depression in people from different cultures.
If you are concerned about your level of depression, it is important to discuss your symptoms
with a mental health professionals.
