Beck Depression Inventory ® -II (BDI ® -II)

A.T. Beck, R.A. Steer & G.K. Brown

This edition of the Beck Depression Inventory, the world’s most widely used instrument detecting depression, features new items that will bring it in line with current depression criteria of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - fourth edition (DSM-IV). The BDI-II now has an age range extended down to 13 years, providing clinicians with a sensitive tool for assessing younger clients. The new scale still takes just 5 minutes to complete, and is more clinically sensitive than ever.

Like its predecessor, the BDI-II consists of 21 items to assess the intensity of depression in clinical and normal patients. Each item is a list of four statements arranged in increasing severity about a particular symptom of depression. These new items bring the BDI-II into alignment with DSM-IV criteria. Items addressing these symptoms replace items in the original scale that dealt with symptoms of weight loss, changes in body image and somatic preoccupation. Another item on the BDI that tapped work difficulty was revised to examine Loss of Energy. Also, sleep loss and appetite loss items were revised to assess both increases in and decreases in sleep and appetite. Current DSM-IV guidelines require assessing depression symptoms over the previous two weeks. The time frame for the response set in the new edition was changed from one week to two to comply.

Reliability Information

Average reliability coefficient: .86 (Mixed Depression)
Test-retest reliability: .90