Children's Depression Inventory

Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) is a psychological assessment tool designed to measure the severity of depression symptoms in children and adolescents. The CDI is widely used in both clinical and research settings to screen for depression in young individuals, to assess the severity of depressive symptoms, and to monitor changes in symptoms over time.

Development and History

The CDI was originally developed by Maria Kovacs in 1977. It was derived from the Beck Depression Inventory, a similar tool used to measure depression severity in adults. The aim was to create an assessment that could accurately reflect the depressive experiences of children, taking into account the developmental differences between children and adults. The CDI has undergone revisions to improve its reliability and validity, with the most recent version being the CDI 2.

Structure

The CDI consists of several items that cover various symptoms and manifestations of depression, such as mood, self-esteem, anhedonia (loss of interest in activities), interpersonal problems, and physical symptoms related to depression. Respondents are asked to select statements that best describe their feelings over the past two weeks.

Administration

The CDI can be administered in individual or group settings and is suitable for children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years. It is available in paper-pencil format and can be completed by the child or adolescent with minimal assistance. The assessment typically takes 15-20 minutes to complete.

Scoring and Interpretation

Each item on the CDI is scored on a scale, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. The total score is calculated by summing the scores of all items, which can then be used to assess the severity of depression. Clinical cut-off scores have been established to help identify children who may require further evaluation or intervention.

Reliability and Validity

The CDI has been extensively researched and has demonstrated good reliability and validity across diverse populations. It is considered a reliable tool for assessing depression in children and adolescents and has been used in numerous studies to explore the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of pediatric depression.

Applications

The CDI is used in a variety of settings, including clinical practice, schools, and research studies. It is a valuable tool for identifying children at risk for depression, monitoring treatment outcomes, and conducting epidemiological studies on the prevalence of depression among children and adolescents.

Limitations

While the CDI is a widely used and respected tool, it is not without limitations. The self-report nature of the inventory means that responses may be influenced by social desirability or lack of insight. Additionally, the CDI measures symptoms at a single point in time and may not capture fluctuations in mood or symptoms over longer periods.