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    Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

    贝克抑郁量表（BDI）

    Technique
    Also called
    BDI-II, BDI, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition, BDI-IA

    What is the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)?

    The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a self-report measure of depressive symptoms published by Aaron Beck and colleagues in 1961.[1] The current BDI-II (1996) has 21 items, each scored 0–3 for the past two weeks, giving a total of 0–63 that rates symptom severity.[1][2]

    BDI-II total score (0–63)

    Best cut-offs for detecting major depression (range across studies)

    Not a self-test. No items are reproduced here; the bands, mean and cut-offs come from Wang and Gorenstein’s (2013) review, and the axis is drawn to scale.

    Select a part for details.
    A to-scale axis of BDI-II total scores from 0 to 63, showing the manual’s four rough bands and the mean score of outpatients with mood disorders; below it, the ranges of best screening cut-offs found in three kinds of samples; then boxes on screening versus diagnosis, versions and copyright. Figures from Wang and Gorenstein (2013). No items are shown, and this is not a self-test. Select a part for details. Select a part for details
    A to-scale axis of BDI-II total scores from 0 to 63, showing the manual’s four rough bands and the mean score of outpatients with mood disorders; below it, the ranges of best screening cut-offs found in three kinds of samples; then boxes on screening versus diagnosis, versions and copyright. Figures from Wang and Gorenstein (2013). No items are shown, and this is not a self-test. Select a part for details. Save as image (PNG)

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    Key points

    • The original BDI treated negative, distorted thinking as the core of depression. BDI-II replaced four items to match DSM-IV depressive episodes and follows no particular theory.[1][2]
    • Based on the scores of 500 outpatients, the manual gives rough bands: 0–13 minimal or none, 14–19 mild, 20–28 moderate and 29–63 severe.[1]
    • A review of 118 studies found internal consistency of about 0.9. The best screening cut-off varies by group: 10–16 in nonclinical samples, 19–31 in psychiatric ones.[1]
    • BDI-II is copyrighted and must be bought from its publisher, Pearson; it covers ages 13 to 80.[1][2] In Taiwan a licensed Chinese edition is published by the Chinese Behavioral Science Corporation.[3]

    An example

    On her first visit to a hospital mental health clinic, Ms. Wang fills in a BDI-II in the waiting room, and her total falls in the “moderate” band. The doctor does not treat that as a verdict but asks about her sleep, work and home life over the past two weeks before deciding whether further assessment is needed.[1]

    Misreadings and limits

    BDI-II is not a diagnostic tool: a high score calls for further assessment, and a low score does not rule out depression.[1] This page and online versions are not for self-diagnosis. The scale includes an item on suicidal thoughts;[1] if you have such thoughts, seek help now. Low mood lasting two weeks or more and disrupting daily life warrants seeing a doctor soon.

    If you need help now

    If you’re struggling to cope or having thoughts of harming yourself:

    If you’re in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.

    Psyfield is not a crisis service. Numbers checked October 2026.

    Sources

    1. 1 Wang, Y.-P., & Gorenstein, C. (2013). Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II: A comprehensive review. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 35(4), 416–431. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2012-1048
    2. 2 Pearson (n.d.). BDI–2: Beck Depression Inventory. Pearson Assessments. View source
    3. 3 中國行為科學社 (n.d.). Beck（貝克系列）：貝克憂鬱量表第二版（BDI-II）中文版. 中國行為科學社. View source

    Last checked against sources: October 28, 2026