Smarr, K. L., & Keefer, A. L. (2011). Measures of depression and depressive symptoms: Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Arthritis care & research, 63 Suppl 11, S454–S466. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.20556

Macalester College

- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
- Center of Epidemiologic studies-Depression Scale (CES-D)
- Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
- Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
- Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
- Self-report inventory to diagnose depression (IDD)
- Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)


Measures of Depression

Measures of depression and depressive symptoms

Goldston, D. B., O'Hara, M. W., & Schartz, H. A. (1990). Reliability, validity, and preliminary normative data for the inventory to diagnose depression in a college population. Psychological Assessment, 2(2), 212-215. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.2.2.212

Reliability, validity, and preliminary normative data for the inventory to diagnose depression in a college population. 

 It is a self-report rating inventory with 21 items, that assesses depressive symptoms and typical attitudes. Its primary target age group is individuals over or breaking even with the age of 13.

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

It is a measure developed for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder by DSM-III criteria.


Self-report Inventory to Diagnose Depression (IDD)


A 21 question self report questionnaire designed to asses the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress in adults and to evaluate the response a patient has to treatment. This is the shorter version of the original DASS questionnaire which has 42 questions, therefore the score from the DASS-21 must be multiplied by two in order to calculate the final score.

DASS-21 Questionnaire

Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) is a 20-item survey that asks caregivers to rate how frequently they had depressive symptoms in the previous week. 
Each item was scored using a four-point scale that ranged from 0 ("rarely or never") to 3 ("most or often"). All items are added up to produce a final score. A cutoff score of 16 or more denotes the presence of substantial depression symptoms.

How CES-D Works

The HDRS is one of the most commonly used clinician-administered depression assessment measures with an emphasis on the physical and melancholy signs of depression.

The original version of the survey (HDRS17) has 17 items that address recent depressive symptoms. Another 4 items were included in a subsequent 21-item version (HDRS21) that was designed to categorize depression. 

Each version has a different system for scoring. A score of 0–7 on the HDRS17 is typically considered to be within the normal range (or in clinical remission), whereas a score of 20 or more denotes at least moderate significant severity.

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a depression assessment tool that is frequently used with the elderly population. It develops into two versions.
The GDS Long Form is a 30-item questionnaire that can be used with older persons who are in good health, or have a medical condition with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.
From the Long Form GDS, the 15 questions with the strongest connection to depressed symptoms were chosen to make up the Short Form GDS. Physically unwell, mildly to moderately demented, or patients who have limited attention spans may find it easier to use the Short Form.
Depending on age, education, and complaints, scores of 0–4 are regarded as normal; 5-8 suggest mild depression; 9–11 indicate moderate depression; and 12–15 indicate severe depression.

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