BDI-2 Self-Report Inventory

The Beck Depression Inventory is a self-administered test, administered in a group setting or individually, that measures the severity of depression symptoms and attitudes of depression (pg 1 of manual). The revised Beck Depression Inventory was specifically designed to assess the severity of depression in clinically diagnosed patients. However, the revised Beck Depression Inventory was not specifically developed to be used as a screening instrument in normal populations or to reflect any specific theory of depression. Although the BDI is oftentimes used for screening in normal populations, it should be used with caution because high BDI scores do not necessarily indicated depression. This provides an indication of the level of intensity a patient’s depression is for the past week including the day of administration for clinicians.

Internationally major depression is recognised in many different parts of the world and is diagnosed via the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria which takes into consideration a range of somatic symptoms. The relapse

This paper examines Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). As MDD is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders in the world, it represents one of the most important topics for research and clinical treatment strategies. The severity and duration of MDD is what distinguishes it from other forms of depressive mood disorders. It represents the most serious manifestation of the depressive mood disorders. The paper will provide a detailed description of the disease, its etiology, treatment strategies and options and social consequences associated with MDD.

Depression is the commonest psychiatric diagnoses in patients attending psychiatric clinics, psychiatric outpatient departments or mental health facilities. The lifetime prevalence of unipolar depression is about 15 percent in males and 25 percent in females in the first world countries with similar prevalance in the developing countries. According to the WHO, about one in four consultations to health care providers is depression related. The twelve month prevalence in the US is about 7 percent with maximum prevalence in the 18-29 year old individuals with females having a 1.5 to 3 fold higher rate than males (23)

Sometimes people may have a mental disorder but because they do not want to seek help they use drugs to help them cope. As pointed out by Hays (2013) “counselors will often see clients because of the problems produced by drinking, such as deterioration in work performance, conflicts with others, depression, or poor health” (p.143). As counselors we need to know that sometimes a person may come in substance abuse but the reason for the substance abuse but maybe a mental disorder. Counselors should be trained to give assessments that will measure both mental illness and substance abuse.

296.32 (F33.1) Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent episode, moderate severity, with anxious distress. Ms. Client meets eight of the nine diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Specifically, during several periods of time she experienced depressed mood, diminished interest in things she enjoyed to do, hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, decreased concentration, and suicidal thoughts without intent. Additionally, as Ms. Client expressed, these symptoms are source of continuing distress and interfere with her academics and social functioning. Also, her symptoms started four years prior to the psychological assessment and persisted intermittently since then, lasting for several weeks to several months, with the most recent period of extended length (enduring two weeks) approximately one year ago. Since the last episode she has experienced these symptoms for two to three days at a time. Although the last episode that met the criterion of two weeks duration occurred approximately a year ago, the symptoms have not disappeared, but they occur periodically since then and when they do, they cause considerable distress and impairment in functioning. Thus, the disorder cannot be coded as ‘in partial or full remission’. The specifier ‘with anxious distress’ was given, because Ms. Client reports feelings of difficulty in concentration because of worry and restlessness.

According to Smarr (2003), the instrument was validated using college students, adult and adolescent psychiatric outpatients (Smarr, 2003). Today, the BDI-II is widely used for those patients as well as normal populations. According to Wang & Gorenstein (2013), the BDI-II can be easily adapted in most clinical settings for detecting major depression and recommending a suitable intervention (Wang & Gorenstein, 2013). Thus, in health care settings the BDI-II has been BDI-II has been expanding in practice in the pathologically ill to assess depressive states that occur at high prevalence (Wang & Gorenstein, 2013).

In both Arbisi (2001) and Farmer’s (2001) review of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) addresses an area of weaknesses was the prior version BDI lacked the diagnostic questions that related to self esteem, energy level, frustration and lack of interest. Both authors agreed that the change was necessary and now aligns with a full assessment of depression signs (Arbisi, 2001), (Farmer, 2001). It appears from the articles that both authors agree on the improvements and easy administration of the assessment.

DAS is recommended for this group as it is reliable and gives correct prediction and outcomes regarding depression. This assessment tool is easy to use; it is a self-report scale consisting of 40 items with each item having a statement and 7-point Likert scale. The questions used in this assessment are direct and easy making it efficient for most individuals' use (de Graaf, Roelofs, & Huibers, 2009). Besides,

The BDI-II is a 21-item self-report instrument measuring the severity of depression (e.g. looking at symptoms of depression) in adults and adolescents (Beck, et al., 1996).

The Beck Depression Inventory- Second Edition (BDI-II) is a 21-item mental health instrument for assessing the occurrence and severity of depression in adults and adolescents, 13 years and older (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996, pg. 1). According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) includes: depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, weight loss, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue or loss of energy, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt. The BDI-II accurately portrays questions addressing these diagnostic features within the instrument. The face validity shows the test is transparent and purports to measure what it claims. For example, question

(0 – I do not feel sad at all, 1 – I feel sad much of the time, 2- I am sad all the time, 3 – I am so sad or unhappy that I can’t stand it). The BDI-II is designed to measure symptoms of depression on a scale so that 0-13: represents minimal depression; 14-19: mild depression; 20-28: moderate depression; and 29-63: severe depression.

Depression is a severe illness the makes a person feel insecure, worthless. and daily tasks become difficult. They are different types of depression because According to Medical News Today states “depression is likely to be caused by a complex combination of factors, genetic, environmental, and psychological”. The probability is significant with genetics. At times an individual may become substantially depressed that they believe their life achievements seem futile. Depression is a

Depression is defined as “an alteration in mood that is expressed by feelings of sadness, despair, or pessimism” (Neeb’s, 397). There are seven types of depressive disorders which are major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, postpartum depression, major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, substance-induced depressive disorder, depressive disorder associated with another medical condition, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Each type of depression has it’s own criteria for a patient to be diagnosed under. Depression often goes hand in hand with anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders (ATI, 97).

Empirical or predictive validity is the extent to which scores on one assessment correspond to the same behaviors measured with other assessment instruments. For an assessment to be empirically valid, statistical evidence must suggest the instrument measures what it is meant to measure (Trochim, 2006). The BDI-FastScreen was correlated with two other assessment instruments that measure symptoms of depression and with the diagnostic criteria for depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR). The correlations were r = .62 with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and r = .86, when correlated with the Beck Anxiety Inventory for Primary Care. Correlation with the DSM-IV-TR was