Focus area: Depression

Overview: The CESD is a screening test and outcome measure for depression and depressive disorder. The CESD measures symptoms defined by the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) for a major depressive episode. It can be used as a diagnostic and treatment monitoring tool. 

Total number of items: Twenty

Administration: Self-report

Standardized cadence: Weekly

Estimated completion time: Five to ten minutes

Supported subscales: None

Age range: Child/adolescent and adult versions are available

Scoring and interpretation: Scores on the CES-D range from 0 to 60, in which higher scores suggest a greater presence of depressive symptoms. A score of 15 or higher is interpreted to indicate a risk for depression. However, screening for depression is a complex process and scoring a 15 or higher on the CES-D should be followed by further evaluation.

Reliability/Validity: The scale has been found reliable (Cronbach’s alpha >.85) in previous research (e.g., Hann et. al., 1999).

Additional information: The CES-D is a widely used measure for child and adolescent depression in both clinical and research settings.