Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): Assessing Depressive Symptom Severity

Assessing depressive symptom severity through a 21-item self-report questionnaire, informing diagnosis and treatment progress in clinical settings.

BDI

Beck Depression Inventory

The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-item self-report questionnaire assessing depressive symptom severity, used to inform diagnosis and monitor treatment progress in clinical settings.

Category

Diagnostic
Monitoring

Source

Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J., 1961

Author Name

Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., Erbaugh, J. (1961)

Page Editor

What is

Beck Depression Inventory

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a widely used assessment tool for measuring the severity of depressive symptoms in individuals. It's a crucial instrument in both clinical and research settings. The BDI consists of 21 items, each addressing a specific symptom or attitude, with respondents rating the intensity of their experiences over the past two weeks. The inventory assesses key dimensions such as sadness, loss of interest, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns, with response options ranging from neutral to severe. Administration is straightforward, typically taking 5-10 minutes to complete, making it a practical tool for mental health professionals to monitor treatment progress and identify symptom severity. By using the BDI, healthcare providers can develop targeted interventions and track patient outcomes over time, ultimately informing major changes in treatment plans as needed. This assessment tool remains an important resource in the field of mental health.

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Scoring

The Beck Depression Inventory can be scored using one main approach. 1. The total score is calculated by summing the ratings for the 21 items, with each item rated on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. The scores are then categorised into different levels of depression severity: minimal (0-13), mild (14-19), moderate (20-28), and severe (29-63). This scoring system enables clinicians to assess the severity of depressive symptoms and monitor changes over time.

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Advantages

Treatment planning

Develops personalised strategies based on assessment data.

Outcome tracking

Measures healthcare intervention results systematically.

Reliable data

Provides consistent measurements for clinical research.

Stats

10
Minutes
21
Questions

Beck Depression Inventory

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