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    Depression · 20 items · 0–60

    Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale: Scoring, Cutoffs & Interpretation

    Twenty-item self-report screen for depressive symptoms over the past week.

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    CES-D0 / 20

    Over the past week, how often have you been bothered by…

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    01I was bothered by things that usually don't bother me.
    02I did not feel like eating; my appetite was poor.
    03I felt that I could not shake off the blues even with help from my family or friends.
    04I felt I was just as good as other people.
    05I had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing.
    06I felt depressed.
    07I felt that everything I did was an effort.
    08I felt hopeful about the future.
    09I thought my life had been a failure.
    10I felt fearful.
    11My sleep was restless.
    12I was happy.
    13I talked less than usual.
    14I felt lonely.
    15People were unfriendly.
    16I enjoyed life.
    17I had crying spells.
    18I felt sad.
    19I felt that people disliked me.
    20I could not get going.
    0 of 200 / 60

    The clinician's brief

    What this scale measures.

    Frequency of depressive symptoms over the past week across affective, somatic and interpersonal domains.

    How scoring works.

    Each item is scored 0-3 by frequency. The four positively-worded items (4, 8, 12 and 16) are reverse-scored. Items are summed for a total of 0-60; a total of 16 or more is the standard threshold for clinically significant depressive symptoms.

    Score
    Severity
    Interpretation
    0–15
    Not clinically significant
    Below the standard CES-D threshold. Depressive symptoms over the past week are unlikely to be clinically significant.
    16–22
    Possible depression
    At or above the standard CES-D cut-off of 16, indicating a clinically meaningful level of depressive symptoms that warrants further assessment.
    23–60
    Probable major depression
    A high symptom load consistent with probable major depression. Confirm with clinical interview and history.

    Reading the score with care.

    The CES-D is a screening measure, not a diagnostic tool. Interpret a positive screen alongside clinical interview and history.

    Related scales

    Instruments clinicians often use alongside this one

    depression

    PHQ-9

    Patient Health Questionnaire-9

    Validated 9-item self-report measure for screening and assessing the severity of depression.

    Open scale

    depression

    PHQ-2

    Patient Health Questionnaire-2

    Two-item ultra-brief screen for depression - the first two questions of the PHQ-9.

    Open scale

    From the clinic

    Clinical perspectives

    The best free self-report depression scales: a clinician's shortlist

    PHQ-9, PHQ-2, MDI, GDS-15, EPDS and CES-D compared: validated cutoffs, sensitivity and specificity, and why the licensed alternatives are not worth paying for.

    Lotte Kjær Svalberg · 6 min read

    Read the article

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