The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is a widely used self-report measure for assessing the presence and severity of depression. The BDI-II was developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck and colleagues in 1996 and is based on the original BDI, created in 1961. The BDI-II consists of 21 items that measure the presence and severity of depressive symptoms such as sadness, guilt, hopelessness, and irritability. The items are rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.
The BDI-II is considered to be a reliable and valid measure of depression and has been widely used in both clinical and research settings. It is commonly used to assess the level of depression in individuals before and after treatment. The BDI-II is also suitable for use with adolescents and can be used as part of a comprehensive assessment of mental health.
The BDI-II has been found to be a reliable measure of depressive symptoms across different populations. It has been used to assess the severity of depression in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. The BDI-II has also been used to assess the effectiveness of various treatments for depression, including psychotherapy, medication, and other interventions.
Given its widespread use and reliability, the BDI-II is an important tool for assessing depression in a variety of settings. It is important for clinicians to be familiar with the BDI-II and understand its strengths and limitations.
References
Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., & Brown, G.K. (1996). Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory-II. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Hudson, J.L., & Rapee, R.M. (2016). The Beck Depression Inventory-II: A review of psychometric properties and clinical utility. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(9), 1061-1071.
Karam, G.G., & Verdeli, H. (2014). The Beck Depression Inventory-II as a screening tool for depression among adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 37(5), 595-603.
Kessler, R.C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K.R., & Walters, E.E. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593-602.