History of the Test:

1. Author:
The BDI was developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck in 1961. He is a renowned psychiatrist and
considered one of the pioneers of cognitive therapy.

2. Development of the Test:

The BDI was developed to measure the severity of depression symptoms. Dr. Beck based the
inventory on the negative thoughts and emotions commonly seen in depressed individuals. The
test has been updated and revised, with the current version being BDI-II.

3. Features of the Test:

o 21 items: The BDI includes 21 questions, each assessing a symptom of depression.

o Scoring: Each item is scored on a scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (severe symptoms),
giving a total possible score of 0 to 63.

o Dimensions: The test evaluates different aspects like mood, pessimism, guilt, fatigue,
and suicidal ideation.

o Reliability: The BDI is considered reliable, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's
alpha of 0.9).

o Validity: It is validated in various settings, showing strong correlations with clinical

assessments of depression.

Rapport:

Establishing a rapport with the participant, Rimsha, was essential for ensuring she felt comfortable
during the assessment. This rapport allows for more honest and accurate responses. Rimsha was
reassured that the test was confidential, and no judgments would be made based on her answers.

Title:

Assessment of Depression Severity Using Beck Depression Inventory

Aims/Objectives:

To assess and evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms in Rimsha using the Beck Depression
Inventory (BDI).

Introduction:
Depression is a mental health condition that can affect various aspects of a person’s life. It manifests in
different ways, from feelings of hopelessness to physical symptoms like fatigue. The Beck Depression
Inventory (BDI) is one of the most widely used tools for assessing the severity of depressive symptoms.
It allows clinicians and researchers to measure and track symptoms over time. In this practical, the BDI
will be used to assess Rimsha’s current state of depression.

Description of the Test:

The BDI is a 21-item questionnaire that assesses depression based on common symptoms such as
sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, and suicidal thoughts. Each item is scored on a 0 to 3 scale,
with 0 indicating no symptoms and 3 indicating severe symptoms. The participant’s total score is
calculated to determine the level of depression.

Materials Required:

1. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire

2. Pen or pencil

3. Scoring sheet

Participant’s Profile:

• Name: Rimsha

• Age: 24

• Gender: Female

• Occupation: Student

• Reason for Referral: Rimsha reports persistent feelings of sadness, lack of energy, and trouble
concentrating. The BDI will help assess the severity of these symptoms.

Procedure and Administration:

1. Preparation:
The Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire was prepared in a printed form. A comfortable
setting was provided to Rimsha to ensure that she could complete the test without distractions.

2. Rapport:
Establishing a trusting relationship with Rimsha was important. The process was explained to
her, emphasizing the confidentiality of her responses and the non-judgmental nature of the
test.
 3. Instructions:
Rimsha was instructed to read each question carefully and choose the option that best describes
how she felt over the past two weeks. It was emphasized that she should answer truthfully and
not overthink the questions.

4. Precautions:
To ensure valid results, Rimsha was given sufficient time to complete the questionnaire. The test
was administered in a quiet room to avoid distractions, and she was assured that her answers
would remain private.

5. Introspective Report:
After completing the test, Rimsha shared her feelings about the experience. She mentioned that
some questions made her reflect on emotions she hadn’t considered before, and she
appreciated the clarity and simplicity of the test.

Scoring and Interpretation:

After Rimsha completed the BDI, her answers were scored as follows:

• Total score: 24

• According to the scoring system:

o 1-10: These ups and downs are considered normal

o 11-16: Mild mood disturbance

o 17-20: Borderline clinical depression

o 21-30: Moderate depression

o 31-40: Severe depression

o 41-63: Extreme depression

With a score of 24, Rimsha falls in the Moderate Depression category, suggesting she is experiencing
moderate depressive symptoms that may benefit from intervention.

Discussion:

Rimsha's total score of 24 indicates that she is suffering from moderate depression. This level of
depression might affect her ability to concentrate, complete tasks, and enjoy activities. Although her
depressive symptoms are not extreme, they are significant enough to impact her daily life. Early
intervention, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or counseling, could help Rimsha manage these
symptoms and prevent them from worsening.

The BDI proved effective in identifying the level of her depression, but further assessment or
professional advice would be essential for a more comprehensive treatment plan.
Conclusion:

The Beck Depression Inventory is a reliable tool to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. In this
case, it helped evaluate Rimsha's emotional state, revealing moderate depression. This highlights the
need for psychological support to manage her condition. Early intervention can help Rimsha regain
control over her emotions and prevent further deterioration of her mental health.

References:

Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory-II. Psychological Corporation.
Beck, A. T. (1961). An Inventory for Measuring Depression. Archives of General Psychiatry.

Example Responses for Rimsha:

1. I feel sad – 1

2. I feel discouraged about the future – 1

3. I feel I have failed more than the average person – 1

4. I don't get real satisfaction out of anything anymore – 2

5. I feel guilty a good part of the time – 1

6. I feel I am being punished – 1

7. I am disappointed in myself – 1

8. I blame myself all the time for my faults – 2

9. I have thoughts of killing myself, but I would not carry them out – 1

10. I cry more now than I used to – 1

11. I feel irritated all the time – 3

12. I have lost most of my interest in other people – 2

13. I put off making decisions more than I used to – 1

14. I feel there are permanent changes in my appearance that make me look unattractive – 2

15. I have to push myself very hard to do anything – 2

16. I don’t sleep as well as I used to – 1

17. I get tired more easily than I used to – 1

18. My appetite is not as good as it used to be – 1

19. I have lost more than five pounds – 1

 20. I am worried about physical problems like aches, pains – 1

21. I have almost no interest in sex – 2

Total Calculation:

If you add up all these responses, you get the following total:

1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 24

Interpretation:

With a score of 24, Rimsha falls into the Moderate Depression category (21-30). This score reflects that
she is experiencing noticeable symptoms of depression but is not in the extreme range.

You can use the same process to calculate the score by adding the values based on the answers chosen
for each of the 21 items. Let me know if you need any further clarification on how the scoring works!