Beck Depression Inventory: How to Self-Test

Depression is a serious mental disorder that occurs for a variety of reasons and comes in many forms. The symptoms of depression are similar to bipolar disorder and blues. That is why it cannot be diagnosed by eye - errors in treatment can aggravate the condition.

But there is a simple way to self-diagnose - the Beck Depression Scale. With its help, any person will determine whether he is suffering from a mental disorder or whether it is just the blues.

Find out what the Beck Scale is, who it is for, and how to use it.

What is the Beck Depression Inventory?

The Beck Inventory is a test to determine your level of depression. It was developed in 1961 by American psychotherapists led by Aaron Beck. The study was based on the results of clinical observations - they helped identify 21 symptoms of depression.

Aaron Beck, author of the Depression Scale Photo: Wikipedia

In 1978, a revised version of the test, the BDI-1A, was published. This is an acronym for Beck Depression Inventory 1A. The latest version is called BDI-II and was released in 1996.

The Beck Depression Inventory contains a list of 21 questions - each describing a symptom of depression. The questions have four answer options - you need to choose the one that suits your situation. Each answer is assigned a certain number of points. Their total sum is the test result. It ranges from 0 to 63. The higher the number, the higher the level of depression a person has.

Instructions: “This questionnaire contains groups of statements. Read each group of statements carefully. Then identify one statement in each group that best matches how you felt THIS WEEK AND TODAY. Check the box next to the statement you selected. If several statements from one group seem equally good to you, then check the box next to each of them. Make sure you read all the statements in each group before making your choice."

• 0 I'm not sad.
• 1 I feel sad or sad.
• 2 I feel sad or sad all the time and I can’t help it
• 3 I feel so sad or sad that I can't bear it.

• 0 I look to the future without much disappointment.
• 1 I feel disappointed about the future.
• 2 I feel like I have nothing to look forward to.
• 3 I feel that the future is hopeless and there can be no turn for the better.

• 0 I don't feel like a failure.
• 1 I feel that failures have happened to me more often than to other people.
• 2 When I look back at my life, I see only a chain of failures.
• 3 I feel like I have failed as a person (parents).

• 0 I have not lost interest in other people.
• 1 I am less interested in other people than I used to be.
• 2 I have lost almost all interest in other people and have almost no feelings for them.
• 3 I have lost all interest in other people and do not care about them at all.

• 0 I make decisions about as easily as always.
• 1 I try to delay decisions.
• 2 Making decisions is a huge difficulty for me.
• 3 I can't make decisions at all anymore.

• 0 I don't feel like I look any worse than usual.
• 1 It bothers me that I look unattractive.
• 2 I feel that there are constant changes in my appearance that make me unattractive.
• 3 I feel like I look disgusting and repulsive.

• 0 I don't feel any particular dissatisfaction.
• 1 Nothing makes me happy like it used to.
• 2 Nothing gives me satisfaction anymore.
• 3 I am not satisfied with everything.

• 0 I don't feel any particular guilt.
• 1 Most of the time I feel bad and worthless.
• 2 I have quite a strong feeling of guilt.
• 3 I feel very bad and worthless.

• 0 I can work about as well as before.
• 1 I need to make extra effort to do something.
• 3 I can't do any work.

• 0 I don't feel disappointed in myself.
• 1 I'm disappointed in myself.
• 2 I am disgusted with myself.
• 3 I hate myself.

• 0 I have no thoughts of self-harm.
• 1 I feel that I would be better off dead.
• 2 I have definite plans to commit suicide.
• 3 I will commit suicide at the first opportunity.

• 0 I'm no more tired than usual.
• 1 I get tired faster than before.
• 2 I get tired from any activity.
• 3 I'm tired of doing anything.

• 0 My appetite is no worse than usual.
• 1 My appetite is not as good as it used to be.
• 2 My appetite is much worse now.
• 3 I have no appetite at all.

Processing and interpretation of results

When interpreting data, the total score for all categories is taken into account

Subscales

Items 1-13 – cognitive-affective subscale (CA)

Items 14-21 – subscale of somatic manifestations of depression (SP)

Individual symptoms

It is also possible to separately assess the severity of 21 symptoms of depression:

1. Mood
2. Pessimism
3. Feeling of inadequacy
4. Dissatisfaction
5. Guilt
6. I feel like I'll be punished
7. Self-loathing
8. Self-blame ideas
9. Suicidal thoughts
10. Tearfulness
11. Irritability
12. Disruption of social connections
13. Indecisiveness
14. Body image
15. Loss of performance
16. Sleep disturbance
17. Fatigue
18. Loss of appetite
19. Weight loss
20. Involvement in bodily sensations
21. Loss of libido

Up to 9 points, satisfactory emotional state - 4 points,

From 10 to 19 points, mild depression - 3 points

From 19 to 22 points moderate depression - 2 points

More than 23 points severe depression - 1 point

A depression level of 19 is considered clinically impaired; a level above 24 points indicates the need for therapy, possibly with the use of antidepressants.

The score for each category is calculated as follows: each item on the scale is scored from 0 to 3 according to the increasing severity of the symptom. The total score ranges from O to 62 and decreases in accordance with the improvement of the condition.

Standards:

0-4 - absence;

4-8 - mild depression;

8-12 - average depression;

12 and above - severe depression.

How is the Beck Scale used?

The Beck Depression Inventory is used as a tool to improve self-esteem. In this case, a person takes the test in the presence of a specialist in order to be able to look at himself from the outside and objectively evaluate.

The Beck scale is useful when working with teenagers - they are the ones who are susceptible to depressive moods, which often lead to suicide. A depression test will help you identify the problem in time and prevent terrible consequences.

Anyone can use the Beck Scale if their psychological state is of concern.

Description of the technique

Beck Depression Inventory

(Beck Depression Inventory) proposed by A.T. Beck in 1961 and developed on the basis of clinical observations, which made it possible to identify a limited set of the most relevant and significant symptoms of depression and the most frequently reported complaints by patients. After correlating this list of parameters with clinical descriptions of depression contained in the relevant literature, a questionnaire was developed that included 21 categories of symptoms and complaints. Each category consists of 4-5 statements corresponding to specific manifestations/symptoms of depression. These statements are ranked according to the increasing specific contribution of the symptom to the overall severity of depression.

In accordance with the severity of the symptom, each item is assigned values ​​from 0 (the symptom is absent or minimally expressed) to 3 (the maximum severity of the symptom). Some categories include alternative statements of equivalent weight.

In the original version, the method was completed with the participation of a qualified expert (psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or sociologist), who read each item from the category out loud, and then asked the patient to choose the statement that most corresponds to his current condition. The patient was given a copy of the questionnaire, according to which he could follow the items read by the expert. Based on the patient's response, the researcher marked the appropriate item on the form. In addition to the test results, the researcher took into account anamnestic data, indicators of intellectual development and other parameters of interest.

Currently, it is believed that the testing procedure can be simplified: the questionnaire is given to the patient and filled out independently.

The score for each category is calculated as follows: each item on the scale is scored from 0 to 3 according to the increasing severity of the symptom. The total score ranges from O to 62 and decreases in accordance with the improvement of the condition.

Test yourself for depression using the Beck Depression Scale

Below are groups of statements. Each statement has four answer options. Choose the one that best describes how you have felt over the past week, including today. Points are added up automatically.

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Beck Depression Inventory

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Description of the technique

The Beck Depression Inventory was proposed by A.T. Beck in 1961 and developed on the basis of clinical observations, which made it possible to identify a limited set of the most relevant and significant symptoms of depression and the most frequently reported complaints by patients. After correlating this list of parameters with clinical descriptions of depression contained in the relevant literature, a questionnaire was developed that included 21 categories of symptoms and complaints. Each category consists of 4-5 statements corresponding to specific manifestations/symptoms of depression. These statements are ranked according to the increasing specific contribution of the symptom to the overall severity of depression.

In accordance with the severity of the symptom, each item is assigned values ​​from 0 (the symptom is absent or minimally expressed) to 3 (the maximum severity of the symptom). Some categories include alternative statements of equivalent weight.

In the original version, the method was completed with the participation of a qualified expert (psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or sociologist), who read each item from the category out loud, and then asked the patient to choose the statement that most corresponds to his current condition. The patient was given a copy of the questionnaire, according to which he could follow the items read by the expert. Based on the patient's response, the researcher marked the appropriate item on the form. In addition to the test results, the researcher took into account anamnestic data, indicators of intellectual development and other parameters of interest.

Currently, it is believed that the testing procedure can be simplified: the questionnaire is given to the patient and filled out independently.

The score for each category is calculated as follows: each item on the scale is scored from 0 to 3 according to the increasing severity of the symptom. The total score ranges from O to 62 and decreases in accordance with the improvement of the condition.

Decoding test results

Beck Depression Scale: How to self-diagnose Photo: Depositphotos
Based on the test results, you can determine whether it is a mental disorder or a fleeting blues. And depending on the diagnosis, take measures - consult a doctor or independently adjust your daily routine and diet.

No depression (0-9 points)

A score from 0 to 9 points indicates that everything is within normal limits. Every person has troubles and a bad mood. But it goes away quickly. The main thing is not to aggravate this condition: switch from negative thoughts to an interesting activity in time.

Mild depression (10-15 points)

A result of 10-15 points is mild depression, which is not a disease. In professional slang - subdepression. It occurs against a background of fatigue, problems, and negative experiences. At the same time, the person has a depressed mood and low performance. Self-esteem often falls.

Subdepression is caused by an incorrect daily routine, poor nutrition, bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle.

Moderate depression (16-19 points)

A score of 16-19 points indicates moderate depression. A person often becomes melancholy, sad, and irritated. Becomes lethargic because there is not enough energy. Arms and legs become weak.

With moderate depression, people avoid communication. Self-esteem drops sharply and a feeling of guilt appears. Health problems begin:

• The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted;
• Blood pressure increases;
• Convulsions, pain in the heart, back and joints appear.

Moderate depression can be caused by a serious illness or injury. Or maybe loneliness, hereditary predisposition. In any case, this is a serious reason to see a doctor.

Severe depression (20-29 points)

This is a critical condition in which a person loses interest in the world around him, lives and acts “automatically”. The body stops producing the happiness hormone endorphin. Not only the emotional and psychological spheres suffer, but also physical health.

In this situation, the person needs to be shown to a specialist as quickly as possible and treatment started. Otherwise, the situation will worsen and eventually lead to suicide.

Severe depression (30-63 points)

A test result of 30-63 points indicates severe depression. This is the most complex form of the disease. It affects all areas of life - relationships, work, health. Severe depression has different causes:

• Poisoning with medications, alcohol, drugs;
• Traumatic brain injuries and, as a result, poor blood circulation to the brain;
• Heart diseases;
• Hormonal imbalances;
• Stress;
• Psychological traumas and their consequences.

In a state of severe depression, a person feels hopelessness and inferiority, is prone to violence and suicide, and often becomes hysterical. His mood changes sharply and unpredictably.

Insomnia, apathy and lack of vital energy become constant companions. During depression, people refuse to eat or eat uncontrollably. Therefore, body weight changes dramatically.

In this condition, a person needs urgent specialist help and serious treatment.

Test interpretation

The Beck Depression Inventory is interpreted below. The answer to the question under the letter “A” gives the respondent 0 points, “B” gives 1 point, “C” gives the respondent 2 points, and “D” 3 points. As a result, the sum of points is calculated.

The main degrees of depression according to the Beck scale:

• interval 0–9 points – normal condition;
• 10–18 points – moderate depression;
• 19–29 points—severe disease state;
• 30–63 – severe depression.

Informational article! Before using this type of definition of depression, you should consult with a specialist.

What to do if the test indicates a problem?

Beck Depression Scale: How to self-diagnose Photo: Depositphotos
It all depends on the degree of depression. If it is not dangerous according to the Beck scale, you can try to correct the situation yourself.

1. Get a good night's sleep. Usually, depression suffers from insomnia, so it is important to establish a daily routine: get up and go to bed at the same time. Gradually the body will get used to it. Before going to bed, the room must be well ventilated, ensure complete darkness and silence. Remember that in a depressed state, the body needs more time to rest. If your usual norm is 8 hours of sleep, increase it to 9-10 hours.
2. Move more. When you're depressed, you don't want to do anything. But the trick is that it is physical activity that helps relieve this condition. Start with a regular walk - preferably in places where you like. Gradually increase the load - try to go up and down the stairs on foot, even if you have an elevator. Ride a bike, go to the pool - anything that gets you moving will do.
3. Eat well. Not only your well-being, but also your mood depends on your menu. Therefore, your diet must include foods rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids. These are vegetables, fruits, berries, lean meat, fish, herbs, nuts, cottage cheese, kefir, eggs, cereals. Eliminate or minimize fast food, sugary carbonated drinks, processed foods and sweets from your menu.
4. Get as much daylight as possible. Its deficiency often leads to depression - especially in autumn and winter. Open the curtains during the day, or even better, try to walk at least a little. Provide good lighting to keep the room as bright as possible in the evening. LED lamps are a good solution, they are bright and consume little electricity.
5. New impressions and emotions help to abstract from the negative. It could be an interesting movie, get-togethers with friends, or any event. Even if you’re not in the mood, force yourself – the effect is worth it.
6. Support from loved ones is a must. Don't give up on it. It's easier to deal with problems with someone's help. In addition, a loved one will make sure that you do not go hungry - this is important for recovery.

If you approach the situation consciously and follow these simple recommendations, your emotional state will soon return to normal.

But if the Beck Depression Inventory shows serious distress or home preventive measures do not work, consult a doctor immediately. Only he can prescribe effective treatment based on the test results.

Material prepared by: Inna Klevacheva Cover photo: Depositphotos

So how do you still understand that it is depression?

In simple terms, the key factor that you can focus on is that there are no objective reasons for a bad mood. There’s just a feeling that it’s bad, that’s all. And it is difficult to determine normal, understandable reasons from an everyday point of view.

Sometimes mild forms of depression can be managed on your own. Moreover, when we are dealing with a mild form, most likely, everything will improve on its own over time; our body can cope with a lot using its own internal resources.

But there are situations when you need to stop fighting yourself and finally go to the doctor. Simply because, at a minimum, it will be easier and faster to defeat the disease, and at a maximum, this is sometimes the only way, because not only psychology is involved, but also physiology.

So, if in doubt, it is better to consult a doctor. Only he will be able to adequately assess what help you need (or don’t need).

Treatment of depression

Treatment of depression usually requires the joint work of a psychologist and psychotherapist.

A psychologist will talk to a depressed person, help them sort out the situation and determine the essence of the problem. A good specialist will also look for secondary (unconscious, hidden) benefits of the disease, work with the client on traumatic events, and track non-obvious behavioral disorders and destructive features of thinking.

The psychotherapist, in turn, will prescribe medications appropriate to the situation that will help cope with the physiological manifestations of the disease. Please note that medications can only be prescribed by a specialist (a psychotherapist or psychiatrist with an appropriate medical diploma!). You can’t take medications because “they prescribed it to a friend and it helped her”

If you want to make sure right now that your condition is within normal limits, I suggest you use the Beck Scale, a special test for assessing the severity of depression.

How severe depression is treated and prognoses for success

When symptoms of severe depression last more than two weeks, the disorder is considered clinical. The most effective methods for getting out of this condition are social therapy, psychotherapy and drug treatment, the result of which is stable remission lasting from 6 months to one year. For many years, methods such as acupuncture, art therapy, various massages, and electric shock have been successfully used.

Using interpersonal, psychodynamic, existential and cognitive behavioral methods of psychotherapy, specialists eliminate suicidal intentions, as well as excessive anxiety and pessimistic mood. They help the patient independently take the path to combat severe depression. Patients have a chance to achieve a complete cure. However, even after recovery, it is necessary to monitor the state of mental and physical health and follow the recommendations of doctors.

Features of severe depression of moderate severity

The problem of depressive disorders is one of the most serious and relevant for the entire modern society, since they are closely related to somatic diseases and cancer. They also often occur in patients with a history of vascular or surgical pathology.

The severity of depression depends primarily on:

• the reasons contributing to its formation;
• characteristics of a person’s character and his personal qualities;
• behavior of others.

Even with moderate severity of severe depressive disorder, the patient may not be able to give a critical assessment of the events occurring to him.

In order to establish the severity of severe depression, clinical signs are considered, and a special Beck psychodiagnostic scale or another is used. Severe depression of moderate severity is determined by a decrease in motor activity and ability to work, depression, inhibition of mental processes, and the appearance of suicidal thoughts.

The most difficult thing for patients with severe depression of moderate severity is sleep disturbances, which are associated with difficulty falling asleep and frequent awakenings. There is no feeling of rest, as insomnia can last from several weeks to six months. This leads to a sharp deterioration of memory and the inability to work productively. After some time, the patient begins to feel helpless, hopeless, and to believe in the unreality of what is happening. This perception of the world can lead him to obsessive suicidal thoughts.

In addition to these, moderate depression has several more characteristic signs:

• frequent infectious diseases due to weakened immune defenses of the body;
• loss of appetite caused by changes in the functioning of internal organs, frequent refusals to eat lead to weight loss;
• communication in the functioning of the functional systems of the body is disrupted.

There is no need to panic and agonize over the question, if severe depression is diagnosed, what should you do? There can be only one answer - contact doctors, without whose help this disease cannot be overcome.

Such a violation cannot be regressed on its own. Only a competent specialist can prescribe antidepressants, and if he deems it necessary, then drugs from the group of mood stabilizers, which contain lithium and increase the effectiveness of therapeutic treatment.

Opinion of results processing specialists

When the result reaches nine points, this indicates the initial symptoms of a depressive state, which in most cases are minor and pass quickly enough without intervention from a psychotherapist. The main behavior in such a situation is not to give rise to the progression of pathology.

A score of ten to fifteen points is called subdepression. This condition does not particularly manifest itself socially and practically does not shift life priorities. But a minor depressive state requires observation, and sometimes drug intervention.

At sixteen or nineteen points, moderate depression occurs. The symptoms in this case are more similar to the mild form, but they only appear much more often. Patients often feel sad and lose interest in work and family. They are fixated on their low self-esteem and feelings of guilt, while the people around them rarely notice this condition.

Scores from twenty to twenty-nine indicate severe depression. A sharp loss of appetite and pronounced apathy are already noticeable here. According to experts, people with a pronounced negative psychological state undergo a restructuring of not only their emotional structure, but even their physical one. It looks as if a person performs all his everyday functions on autopilot, without delving into problems and nuances, and nothing makes him happy. This condition requires urgent treatment, as otherwise the situation often ends in death.

The specialist must conduct a survey of the patient to assess the severity of the pathology and only after that develops an individual psychotherapy schedule that helps in further treatment.

General information about the technique

The Beck test is necessary not only for the purpose of diagnosing pathology, but also for assessing the psychological state of adolescents, for whom an age-adapted version has been developed.

Initially, analysis using the test was carried out with a doctor reading out the formulations. In this case, the person received a paper copy of the form, but answered exclusively orally. In this case, the expert took into account the intellectual development of the subject and the alleged disease. Now the test is greatly simplified.

The questionnaire consists of twenty-one sentences, where phrases are marked with numbers or not marked at all.

The description of the Beck Depression Scale methodology can be roughly expressed in terms of the topics covered in this stimulus material, namely:

1. Psychological state today and over the past few days.
2. An idea of ​​your future.
3. How much a person feels needed in society.
4. Sleep data.
5. Do the simple joys of life have a place in a person’s life?
6. How often does the patient feel guilty?
7. The situation with intimate life.
8. Health status.
9. Presence of depression.
10. Degree of self-satisfaction.
11. Do you have problems with appetite?
12. Having thoughts related to suicide.
13. How irritable the person has been lately.

Before making a choice, you should study all the options and “try the situation on yourself.”

The Beck Scale is one of the simplest methods for determining psychological state, but at the same time it is the most reliable.