Beck Depression Inventory – Second Edition
BDI-IIDepressive Symptom Severity
21 items
1996
α 0.89–0.94
License required
Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., & Brown, G.K.
Clinical safeguarding note: Score ranges: 0–13 minimal, 14–19 mild, 20–28 moderate, 29–63 severe. Requires licence from Pearson. Contains suicidal ideation item — ensure appropriate safeguarding. Not diagnostic; use alongside clinical assessment.
What it measures
The most widely used self-report measure of depressive symptom severity. Each item presents four statements of increasing severity; respondents select the one best describing the past two weeks. Normed on clinical and non-clinical populations.
Response format
4-point forced choice (0–3) per item; total 0–63
Representative items
- 0 I do not feel sad / 1 I feel sad much of the time / 2 I am sad all the time / 3 I am so sad I can't stand it (Sadness)
- 0 I do not feel like a failure / 1 I have failed more than I should / 2 As I look back I see many failures / 3 I feel I am a total failure (Past Failure)
This is a licensed instrument — representative items are shown for reference only. Obtain the original scale materials from the publisher before use in research.
Recommended companion scales
Citation
Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., & Brown, G.K. (1996). Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory–II. Psychological Corporation.
Keywords
#depression#mood#clinical#cognitive#somatic#screening