Classifying college students as depressed or nondepressed using the Beck Depression Inventory: An empirical analysis.

In Study 1, the classification of 150 college students as nondepressed or mildly or moderately depressed was compared using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores obtained on 2 occasions, either on the same day or 1 wk later. Whereas the overall test–retest reliability coefficients were acceptable, particularly when both administrations occurred on the same day, the consistency of classification of Ss into the mild and moderate levels of depression was poor. In an attempt to determine the factors contributing to the poor classification consistency, a 2nd study with 207 Ss compared the effect of exposure to the BDI on subsequent BDI responses. Ss who completed the BDI on 2 occasions showed significantly lower BDI scores compared to Ss exposed to an alternate depression inventory (the Self-Rating Depression Scale [SRDS]) or no prior questionnaire. In addition, a large percentage of Ss classified as moderately depressed following the initial BDI administration failed to be classified within the moderate categories on retesting the same day. Ss tested using the SRDS maintained the same depression classification when retested on the BDI. Item analyses failed to reveal significantly different amounts of change among individual BDI items. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Feminine self-esteem, self-ratings of competence, and maternal career commitment.

Conducted a study with 71 college females to examine the relationship between self-esteem (as measured by Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory) and self-ratings of competence on Rosenkrantz's Sex-Role Stereotype Questionnaire. Comparisons were made of Ss whose mothers differed in work history and attitudes toward careers. Higher self-esteem was predicted for Ss who rated themselves highly on competence-related traits; this hypothesis was supported. Higher self-esteem and higher self-ratings on competence were expected for Ss whose mothers worked and Ss whose mothers desired a career. Findings were that maternal preference for a career had a positive effect upon Ss' self-esteem and evaluations of their own competence; maternal employment did not. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Childhood competence and depression.

Examined whether children with both academic and social skill deficiencies have higher levels of peer-nominated and self-ratings of depression than their more competent peers and whether depression levels can distinguish academically skilled children from socially skilled ones. Objective measures of academic and social competence classified 169 3rd–6th grade children as competent (above the median on both measures), incompetent (below on both), academically skilled (above only on academic competence), or socially skilled (above only on social competence). Children completed the Perceived Competence Scale for Children, Children's Depression Inventory, and a peer nomination inventory of depression. Results demonstrate information about academic and social competence best predicted Ss' depression. Peer-nominated and self-rated depression were highest among incompetent Ss and lowest among competent Ss. Peer-nominated happiness was higher among the socially skilled than among the academically skilled. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the validities of the Beck, Zung, and MMPI Depression scales.

Compared the validities of 3 widely used self-report depression measures: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the MMPI Depression scale, and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SRDS). Each inventory was administered to 101 inpatient psychiatric ward patients and to 99 chemical dependency ward patients. All of the Ss were male and less than 60 yrs of age. The 3 scales were correlated with clinicians' global ratings of depression, with scores on 5 DSM-III-based factor-analytic depression scales, and with an overall depression score based on the DSM-III criteria. In general, the SRDS produced better validity coefficients than the BDI, which in turn yielded higher correlations with these criteria than did the MMPI Depression Scale. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Examining scale discriminability in the BDI and CES-D as a function of depressive severity.

Scale discriminability is the ability of a measure to discriminate among individuals ordered along some continuum, such as depressive severity. We used a nonparametric item-response model to examine scale discriminability in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in both college and depressed outpatient samples. In the college sample, the CES-D was more discriminating than the BDI, but a standard CES-D cutoff score of 16 overestimated the likely prevalence of depression (45%). The CES-D may be more effective than the BDI in detecting differences in depressive severity in college students but may be less specific. In the depressed outpatient sample, the CES-D was again more discriminating than the BDI. The superior scale discriminability of the CES-D offers one explanation for its poorer specificity in college samples. Endorsing many items that discriminate at low levels of depressive severity can result in scores that exceed a cutoff criterion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Childhood competence and behavior problems.

Examined the relationship between objective measures of childhood competence and behavior problems in 474 2nd–6th graders. Daily classwork measured the academic competence, and peer ratings measured social competence. Median splits formed 4 groups, with competent Ss highest and incompetent Ss lowest on the relatively independent dimensions of academic and social competence. Competent Ss excelled on attitudinal measures of a competent lifestyle and on the Harter Competence (HC) Scales. Teacher ratings on the Behavior Problem Checklist (BPC) attributed fewest problems to competent Ss. Conversely, incompetent Ss achieved the lowest HC and the highest BPC scores. Ss high on social competence and low on academic competence were distinguished by BPC conduct problems and nervousness. Peer nominations of depression on the Peer Nomination Inventory characterized all Ss low on social competence. (48 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hopelessness, depression, and suicidal intent among psychiatrically disturbed inpatient children.

The Hoplessness Scale for Children was developed and administered to 66 8–13 yr old children along with the Children's Depression Inventory, Bellevue Index of Depression, Depression Symptom Checklist, and the Self-Esteem Inventory. As predicted, Ss who scored high on the Hopelessness Scale showed significantly more severe depression and lower self-esteem than those who scored low on the scale. Ss who evinced suicidal attempt or ideation, independently assessed at intake diagnosis, showed greater hopelessness than Ss with no such intent. Suicidal intent was more consistently correlated with hopelessness than with depression, a finding parallel to results obtained with adults. Overall, findings suggest that negative expectations toward oneself and the future can be assessed in children and are related both to depression and suicidal intent. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive-behavioral assessment of depression: Clinical validation of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire.

S. D. Hollon and P. C. Kendall's (see record 1981-20180-001) Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-30), designed to identify and measure the frequency of occurrence of automatic negative thoughts associated with depression, was constructed and cross-validated using male and female undergraduates as Ss. The present study examined the applicability of the ATQ-30 to clinical populations. Significantly higher ATQ-30 scores were found for 21 19–53 yr old depressed psychiatric patients than for 40 nondepressed medical and psychiatric patients. The ATQ-30 correlated significantly with therapist ratings of depression, the MMPI Depression scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Split-half and coefficient alpha reliability coefficients were also highly significant, as were item-to-total correlations. The ATQ-30 appears to be a valid and reliable measure of depression-related cognitions in clinical as well as nonclinical populations. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reliabilities and concurrent validities of popular self-report measures of depression, anxiety, and social desirability.

135 male and 256 female undergraduates completed the Self-Rating Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Depression Adjective Check Lists, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, S-R Inventory of Anxiousness, Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and Edwards Social Desirability Scale. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated strong relationships between measures of depression and between measures of anxiety. However, pairs of anxiety and depression measures correlated almost as strongly. All depression and anxiety measures were significantly associated with the Edwards Social Desirability Scale. Findings question the use of a self-report measure of depression to select "depressed" Ss among college students. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depressive reactions and unemployment.

Investigated correlates of situation-specific depressive affect associated with unemployment and correlates of more general depressive symptoms assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for 116 15–32 yr old unemployed Ss. Consistent with a frustrated work-motivation pattern, depressive affect was associated with concern about being unemployed and with stronger endorsement of external causes of unemployment. Consistent with a self-blame view of depression, BDI scores were related to stronger endorsement of internal causes for unemployment, to low self-esteem, and to feelings of helplessness. Stronger endorsement of internal causes was found among those Ss with a longer history of unemployment. Multiple regression analyses showed, however, that the attributional variables accounted for a relatively low proportion of the variance in the depression measures. Results question the adequacy of attributional accounts of depression. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Affective ratings and startle modulation in people with nonclinical depression.

This study tested predictions based on the emotion context insensitivity (ECI) hypothesis of Rottenberg, Gross, and Gotlib (2005) that a nonclinical sample of people with depressive symptoms would show reduced responses to both positive and negative stimuli relative to people without depression and would show an enhanced response to novelty. Seventy individuals completed diagnostic questionnaires, made ratings of 21 affectively valenced pictures, and then viewed the same 21 pictures and 21 novel pictures while startle blink responses were recorded from electromyographic activity of the orbicularis oculi. People with scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961) indicative of depression demonstrated a lack of affective startle modulation compared to the nondepression group. For all participants, the startle response was larger for novel pictures than for previously viewed pictures, but scores on the BDI were not related to response to novelty. Taken together, the results suggest that nonclinical depression is associated with a lack of affective modulation of startle, as has been shown for clinical depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive, assertive, and insight-oriented group therapies in the treatment of reactive depression in women.

33 nonpsychotic, nonsuicidal women (mean age 35.1 yrs) who scored between 15 and 31 on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and whose depression was situationally related were assigned to 6-wk cognitive, assertive, or insight-oriented group therapy. Ss were administered a standardized interview, BDI, Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, Personality Data Form, and 4 tape-recorded scenes requiring an assertive response before and after the groups and at a 2-mo follow-up. Results show all groups improved significantly in depression, rationality, and assertiveness. Assertive and insight groups improved significantly more in rationality regarding acceptance than the cognitive group. At follow-up, none of the assertive groups, 18% of the cognitive group, and 45% of the insight group had sought further treatment. Additionally, the assertive group was significantly more rational regarding frustrating events and self-worth. The assertive and insight groups made significantly more gains and were more assertive than the cognitive group. A 3 (change in depression) by 3 (treatment group) ANOVA showed high-depression-change and medium-depression-change Ss changed significantly more in assertiveness and rationally than low-depression change Ss. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depression as measured by the DSM-III and the Beck Depression Inventory in an unselected adult population.

The National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to 298 volunteers (average age 37.9 yrs) to determine the relation between DSM-III diagnosis of depression derived from the DIS and BDI scores of Ss. Results show that DSM-III diagnoses of depression were not associated with specific ranges of scores on the BDI, due to the heterogeneous nature of the category of dysthymic disorder. Using a cutting point of 9/10, sensitivity was 100%, specificity 86%, the proportion of false negatives 0%, and of false positives 13.7%, respectively. Upward adjustment of the cutting point on the BDI to 21/22 for research purposes reduced false positives to 1.4% but increased false negatives correspondingly to 52.4%. Upward adjustment of the cutting point on the BDI to 18/19 for epidemiologic purposes yielded an unbiased estimate of the prevalence of depression diagnosed by the DSM-III. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Magnetic resonance imaging correlates of depression in early- and late-onset Alzheimer''s disease

Even today psychotic depression is connected to a lot of unanswered questions. A self-questionnaire (BFD) was developed in order to evaluate cognitions corresponding to mood congruent depressive delusions. They were assumed to indicate psychotic depression and to be related to severity of the depressive syndrome. 42 depressed inpatients were examined by the BFD, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). BFD scores were found increased in psychotic depression (p = 0.009) and correlated to BDI scores (p = 0.002). 19 re-examined patients showed a significant improvement in HAMD and BDI scores but not concerning the delusion indicating cognitions (BFD), which were significantly correlated to suicidality items of BDI and HAMD (p = 0.005). The results prove the delusion indicating nature of cognitions measured by the BFD and their correlation to severe depression. Differences in treatment response are indicated and persisting or increasing BFD scores seem to be accompanied by more severe suicidal tendency.     

Validation of the Beck Depression Inventory in a university population using psychiatric estimate as the criterion.

Investigated the utility of the Beck Depression Inventory for survey use in a college population by determining its concurrent validity, using psychiatric rating of depth of depression as the criterion. 56 undergraduate and graduate students served as Ss. Interrater reliability of psychiatric estimate as measured by a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was .62, perhaps because the primary and secondary raters used different diagnostic procedures. The Pearson-product-moment correlation coefficient between the inventory and the psychiatric rating was .77. These findings indicate that the Beck Depression Inventory is a valid instrument for use in a college population. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between the inventory and the psychiatric estimate fell to .30 in a 2nd sample of 27 Ss with whom 1–24 days intervened between administration of the inventory and the psychiatric interview. This attenuation in Ss who experienced a time delay is consistent with the nature of the depression inventory as a measure of state as opposed to trait depression. The apparent decline in measured depression additionally suggests the need for longitudinal study to determine its course and outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-reports of depression and state-trait anxiety: Evidence for differential assessment.

Several researchers have found anxiety and depression to be indistinguishable in nonclinical samples and have suggested that both constructs may be components of a general psychological distress process. Another possibility is that overlap is due to the psychometric limitations of scales used. A series of exploratory factor analyses were conducted in a nonclinical sample (N?=?605) using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales (EMAS; N. S. Endler et al, 1991). Both state and trait anxiety and depression could be differentiated with the BDI and the EMAS but not with the STAI. Some theoretical models of negative affectivity or general psychopathology may be premature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Induction of depressive affect after prolonged exposure to a mildly depressed individual.

Administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to 44 undergraduate roommate pairs during the 1st, 5th, and 11th wks of a 13-wk quarter. 22 pairs contained mildly or moderately depressed Ss; the other 22 pairs contained only nondepressed Ss (NSs). These mildly or moderately depressed Ss included 8 unremitted depressives and 14 transient-remitted depressives. Analyses indicated that after 5 wks and 11 wks of living together, the roommates of unremitted depressives had significantly higher BDI scores than NSs. Moreover, their BDI scores at 5 and 11 wks were significantly higher than they were at the 1st wk. Results also show that at 5 and 11 wks the BDI scores of the roommates of transient-remitted persons were significantly higher than scores of NSs. Possible causes for this induction of depressive affect include direct induction stemming from day-to-day contact, a modeling process, or increased dysphoria associated with an unhappy roommate relationship. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonassertiveness, dysfunctional attitudes, and mild levels of depression.

Studied the relationships between nonassertion, dysfunctional attitudes, and mild levels of depression, using 89 undergraduates who completed 2 self-report measures of assertion, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). In accord with past research, it was found that assertion deficits increased significantly with increases in depression scores. The presence of dysfunctional attitudes also accounted for a significant increase in assertion difficulties, over and above that accounted for by depression. In particular, Ss scoring high on the DAS indicated greater difficulty in the resolution of interpersonal conflicts and the comfortable assertion of their own rights, compared to Ss scoring low on this measure. Findings are discussed in terms of the disruptive effects of dysfunctional attitudes on assertive responding and their possible relationship to a cognitive vulnerability model of depression. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of positive reframing and paradoxical directives in counseling for negative emotions.

Examined the effects of 2 paradoxical directives on negative emotions of 46 undergraduates whose Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores ranged from 10 to 30 and who identified themselves as experiencing negative emotions that they wanted to change. According to the 2?×?2 design of the 4-wk study, Ss received either positive reframing statements or no reframing statements and either paradoxical or nonparadoxical directives in a 2-interview treatment. Three male and 3 female counselors delivered the treatment in all conditions. Change in negative emotions was measured by pre–post differences on the BDI and on a self-report mood scale. Results indicate that positive reframing produced greater reduction in negative emotions than no reframing, although negative emotions were reduced in all conditions. The 2 directives did not differ in their effects on either of the measures. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)