Understanding the Beck Depression Inventory: A Quick Guide to Assessing Depression

Evaluating your mental health can be done efficiently in just 10 minutes.

What Is the Beck Depression Inventory?

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a scientifically validated questionnaire used to accurately detect depression and measure its intensity.

This assessment consists of 21 questions, each offering four answer choices that describe how a person has felt recently. Each response carries a specific point value. The total score helps mental health professionals—such as clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, or psychiatrists—make an initial evaluation.

Developed by American psychiatry professor Aaron T. Beck in 1961, the inventory was based on key symptoms of depression. It has undergone two revisions, with the latest update in 1996 aligning with the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), an internationally recognized guide created by the American Psychiatric Association.

How to Complete the Beck Depression Inventory

Carefully read each of the 21 groups of statements. For each, select the option that best reflects your feelings over the past two weeks, including today. If you find it difficult to choose between options, select the one with the higher point value.

Completing the questionnaire usually takes no more than 10 minutes.

1. Sadness

• 0 — I do not feel sad or downhearted.
• 1 — I feel sad occasionally.
• 2 — I feel sad most of the time.
• 3 — I am so sad and unhappy that it feels unbearable.

2. Outlook on the Future

• 0 — I am not afraid of the future.
• 1 — I worry about the future more than I used to.
• 2 — I expect nothing good to happen.
• 3 — My future seems hopeless; things are only getting worse.

3. Past Failures

• 0 — I do not consider myself a failure.
• 1 — I experience failures more often than others.
• 2 — I have had many failures and disappointments.
• 3 — I am a complete failure.

4. Pleasure in Life

• 0 — I am satisfied with life.
• 1 — I used to enjoy things more.
• 2 — I no longer find joy in things that once made me happy.
• 3 — My life is terrible with no hope.

5. Feelings of Guilt

• 0 — I do not feel guilty about anything.
• 1 — I often feel guilty about things I could have done.
• 2 — I feel guilty very often.
• 3 — I constantly feel guilty toward everyone.

6. Expectation of Punishment

• 0 — I have done nothing to deserve punishment.
• 1 — I feel I deserve to be punished.
• 2 — I live in constant fear of punishment.
• 3 — I feel I have already been punished for everything.

7. Self-Perception

• 0 — I feel normal about myself.
• 1 — I have lost confidence in myself.
• 2 — I am disappointed in myself.
• 3 — I hate myself.

8. Self-Criticism

• 0 — I know I am not worse than others.
• 1 — I see more flaws in myself than before.
• 2 — I am aware of all my faults and criticize myself harshly.
• 3 — I am nothing but flaws and blame myself for all bad things.

9. Suicidal Thoughts

• 0 — I have never thought about suicide; it is not an option.
• 1 — I occasionally have fleeting suicidal thoughts but no plans.
• 2 — I often think that suicide might be a solution.
• 3 — I feel relief at the thought of ending it all and am waiting for the opportunity.

10. Desire to Cry

• 0 — I cry no more than usual.
• 1 — I cry more often than before.
• 2 — I cry almost constantly.
• 3 — I want to cry but cannot anymore.

11. Anxiety and Nervousness

• 0 — I feel calm as usual.
• 1 — I feel more anxious than usual.
• 2 — I am constantly nervous and easily irritated.
• 3 — I am so agitated that I have to keep moving or doing something to avoid going crazy.

12. Loss of Interest

• 0 — I am still interested in people and hobbies.
• 1 — I have started losing interest in my surroundings.
• 2 — I find others boring and irritating.
• 3 — I have lost interest in everything.

13. Decision-Making Ability

• 0 — I make decisions as I always did.
• 1 — I find it harder to decide and wish someone else would take responsibility.
• 2 — Every decision is difficult.
• 3 — I cannot and do not want to make any decisions.

14. Sense of Self-Worth

• 0 — I still feel needed by others and myself.
• 1 — Something inside me is broken; I often feel unwanted.
• 2 — I feel worthless compared to others.
• 3 — I am completely useless.

15. Energy Level

• 0 — I have my usual energy.
• 1 — I have less energy than before.
• 2 — I lack the strength to do what I need.
• 3 — I have no energy for anything.

16. Sleep Patterns

• 0 — I sleep as usual.
• 1 — I sleep more or less than usual.
• 2 — I sleep significantly more or less than usual.
• 3 — I am ready to sleep most of the day or frequently wake up at night and cannot fall back asleep.

17. Irritability

• 0 — I am no more irritable than usual.
• 1 — I get irritated more easily.
• 2 — I regularly find everything annoying.
• 3 — I feel irritated constantly, even without reason.

18. Appetite

• 0 — My appetite is unchanged.
• 1 — My appetite has slightly changed; I eat more or less than before.
• 2 — My appetite has significantly decreased or increased.
• 3 — I have no appetite or I constantly want to eat.

19. Concentration

• 0 — I can concentrate easily.
• 1 — I have some trouble concentrating lately.
• 2 — I find it hard to focus for more than a few minutes.
• 3 — I cannot concentrate at all.

20. Fatigue

• 0 — I get tired as usual.
• 1 — I get tired more quickly.
• 2 — I manage but often skip activities like sports, socializing, or trips due to lack of energy.
• 3 — I feel tired even upon waking up.

21. Interest in Sex

• 0 — My libido is unchanged.
• 1 — I am less interested in sex than before.
• 2 — I rarely think about sex; it is a low priority.
• 3 — I have completely lost interest in intimacy.

Interpreting Your Beck Depression Inventory Score

Your total score indicates the severity of depressive symptoms as follows:

• 0–13 points: No depression symptoms; your mental health appears stable.
• 14–19 points: Mild depression (subclinical).
• 20–28 points: Moderate depression.
• 29–63 points: Severe depression; the higher the score, the more serious the condition.

Note that the Beck Depression Inventory is a screening tool, not a definitive diagnostic instrument. It serves as a crucial part of a comprehensive mental health evaluation conducted by a healthcare professional. To confirm a diagnosis, doctors consider additional factors such as overall health, existing medical conditions, patient wellbeing, age, and lifestyle.

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