Depression: The complexity of self-report measures

This study investigated the state-trait distinction of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the complexity of this and three other self-report depression inventories (Carroll Depression Scale-Revised [CDS-R] and the Stale-Depression [S-Dep] and Trait-Depression [T-Dep] subscales of the Self-Analysis Questionnaire). In Study I, participants (170 men, 275 women) were administered the BDI, the S-Dep, and the T-Dep. Correlation analysis supported higher relationships between the BD1 and T-Bcp for women but not for men. Regression results showed T-Dep to De a better predictor of the BDI than S-Dep for both men and women. Four factors were extracted through factor analysis: Cognitive-Affective, Dysthymic, Euthymic, and Physiological. Study 2 investigated the BDI, T-Dep, S-Dep, and CDS-R in a subsample (95 men, 122 women) of participants. Factor analysis yielded factors similar to those in Studs' I. Results indicated that clinicians and researchers should be knowledgeable about the aspects of depression that self-report inventories assess before making conclusions based on one particular measure.