Factor structure, concurrent validity, and internal consistency of the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition in a sample of college students

We examined the psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) [Beck et al., 1996, San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation]. Four hundred fourteen undergraduate students at two public universities participated. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the BDI-II two-factor structure measuring cognitive-affective and somatic depressive symptoms. In addition, the internal consistency was high and the concurrent validity of the BDI-II was supported by positive correlations with self-report measures of depression and anxiety. These findings replicate prior research supporting the validity and reliability of the BDI-II in a college sample.     

A general factor model for the Beck Depression Inventory-II: validation in a sample of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have linked symptoms of depression after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to negative health outcomes, including mortality. It has been suggested, however, that this link may be due to biased measurement of depressive symptoms in post-AMI patients related to confounding with somatic symptoms related to AMI. The objective of this study was to validate a factor model for the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) that would allow for modeling of depressive symptoms after explicitly removing bias related to somatic symptom overlap. METHODS: A total of 477 hospitalized post-AMI patients from 10 cardiac care units were administered the BDI-II. Confirmatory factor analysis models for ordinal data were conducted with MPLUS to test the fit of a model with a single General Depression factor (all 21 BDI-II items) and uncorrelated Somatic (5 items) and Cognitive (8 items) factors (G-S-C model) compared to standard correlated two-factor models. RESULTS: The G-S-C model fit as well or better than previously published correlated two-factor models. Seventy-three percent of variance in BDI-II scores is accounted for by the General Depression factor, whereas 11% and 13% respectively are accounted for by uncorrelated Somatic and Cognitive factors. CONCLUSIONS: The G-S-C model is a novel approach to understanding the measurement structure of the BDI-II, presents advantageous statistical and interpretive properties compared to standard correlated factor models, and provides a viable mechanism to test links between symptoms of depression, as measured by the General Depression factor, and health outcomes among patients with AMI after explicitly removing variance from somatic symptoms unrelated to the General Depression factor.     

Examining the construct of depression in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Depression is commonly reported by patients suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAS). We used the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-2nd edition (BDI-II) to examine the unique contributions of OSAS severity and obesity to depressive symptoms in OSAS. We predicted that the Somatic and Cognitive dimensions of the BDI-II would be more strongly associated with apnea severity and obesity, respectively. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-three moderate to severe OSAS patients (61 men, 32 women) were seen for psychological testing prior to initiating CPAP treatment. They completed the BDI-II and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Measures of apnea severity (RDI, percent of sleep time below 90% oxygen saturation) and BMI were also collected. RESULTS: RDI was significantly related to BMI and BDI-II total score, but not to ESS score. BMI was related to BDI-II total score and ESS score. Partial correlations indicated that RDI was independently related to the Somatic dimension on the BDI-II. By contrast, BMI was uniquely associated with the Cognitive dimension. Although there was no difference in depression scores between men and women, the relationship between the Somatic factor and apnea severity was significant in men, whereas obesity and the Cognitive factor were significantly associated in women. CONCLUSIONS: OSAS severity and obesity contribute differentially to symptoms of depression in OSAS. In addition, symptoms of depression in OSAS manifest differently in men than in women.     

Psychometric properties of a Persian-language version of the Beck Depression Inventory--Second edition: BDI-II-PERSIAN

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is perhaps the most commonly used screening instrument for depression in the general population. We examined the psychometric properties of a Persian-language version of the second edition of this instrument (BDI-II) [Beck et al., 1996] in an Iranian college-student sample. In a sample of 125 student volunteers from two Iranian universities, we compared mean item scores on the BDI-II-Persian with those on the English-language version administered to North American college students, and assessed internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the BDI-II-Persian and its concurrent validity against a measure of negative automatic thoughts in depression, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire [Hollon and Kendall, 1980]. We also examined the factor structure of the BDI-II-Persian through comparing the fit of various proposed models to the data using confirmatory factor analysis. The BDI-II-Persian had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.87) and acceptable test-retest reliability (r=0.74). The instrument correlated strongly with the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. In factor analysis, models with strongly correlated affective-cognitive and somatic-vegetative factors provided a better fit than models with one global factor. These data support the reliability and concurrent validity of the BDI-II-Persian as a measure of depressive symptoms in nonclinical samples.     

Psychometric properties of the Spanish self-report version of the Panic Disorder Severity Scale

Objective

The goal of the study was to assess the psychometric properties and the factor structure of the Spanish self-report version of the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS-SR).

Method

One hundred and twenty four patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder were assessed with the Spanish PDSS-SR, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), the Sheehan Disability Inventory (SDI) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate internal consistency. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate test-retest reliability, convergent and divergent validity. Sensitivity to change data was obtained for 91 patients that had completed a cognitive behavioural therapy. The factor structure was analysed using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Results

The Spanish PDSS-SR showed excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reliability and adequate convergent validity. Regarding divergent validity, the correlation with the BDI-II was larger than expected. The Spanish PDSS-SR was sensitive to change. Our CFA suggested a two-factor model for the scale.

Conclusions

The Spanish PDSS-SR has similar psychometric properties as the previous versions of the PDSS-SR and it can become a useful instrument to assess panic symptoms in clinical and research settings in Spanish-speaking countries.     

Functioning and quality of life in patients with somatic symptom disorder: The association with comorbid depression

ObjectivesPatients with somatic symptoms often have impaired functioning and reduced quality of life (QOL), but the factors identified as responsible for these impairments vary between studies. We examined functioning and QOL in patients with somatic symptom disorder (SSD), exploring their associations with demographic factors, personality traits and psychological features.MethodsThe sample comprised 107 SSD patients and 100 healthy controls. Several types of self-report instrument were administered. Group differences were assessed with independent t-tests. We used multiple linear regression to examine relationships between the independent variables and functioning and QOL. Finally, we used structural equation modeling (SEM) to perform path analysis and examine the fit of a model based on the earlier results.ResultsMost function scores were lower in SSD patients than in healthy controls. In SSD patients overall WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) score was correlated with exercise level and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score. There were also associations between Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) score and age, novelty seeking, Cognitions About Body and Health Questionnaire (CABAH) score and BDI-II score. Family APGAR score was only related to BDI-II score. Path analysis revealed that BDI-II score was related to all three indices of functioning.ConclusionsDepression is associated with functioning and QOL in SSD patients.Trial registration informationThe Research Ethics Committee of National Taiwan University National Taiwan University Hospital approved this study (approval number: 201507007RINB).     

Factor structure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in Taiwanese adolescents

BackgroundThe original study of Radloff (Appl Psychol Meas. 1977. 1:385-401) on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) indicated a 4-factor model in the adult population. However, the factor structure of the CES-D in Asian adolescents has not been extensively validated. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure of the Chinese version of the CES-D in a large representative Taiwanese adolescent population.MethodA total of 10 116 adolescents completed the Chinese version of the CES-D. We used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the adequacy of 5 models of the factor structure in adolescents who were divided into 4 groups by sex and age. We also enrolled the variables of suicide tendency, insomnia, and peer relationships into the confirmatory factor analysis to examine the factor structure of the CES-D and examined the correlations between the CES-D factors and these variables.ResultsThe results of this study indicated that the four-factor model (depressed affect, somatic symptoms, interpersonal problems, and positive affect) had the highest validity in Taiwanese adolescents. We also found that although the 4 factors of the CES-D were correlated with each other, their correlations with suicide tendency, insomnia, and peer relationships were different.ConclusionsThis study supported the usefulness of the Chinese version of the CES-D as a tool to understand the concept of depression in Taiwanese adolescents.     

Reliabilität und Validität des revidierten Beck-Depressionsinventars (BDI-II)

BACKGROUND : The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) underwent revision in 1996 (BDI-II) with the goal of addressing DSM-IV depression criteria. The present study assessed psychometric properties of the German version of the BDI-II. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The BDI-II was translated into German and evaluated in a series of studies with clinical and nonclinical samples. RESULTS: The content validity of the BDI-II has improved by following DSM-IV symptom criteria. Internal consistency was satisfactorily high (alpha>or=0.84), and retest reliability exceeded r>or=0.75 in nonclinical samples. Associations with construct-related scales (depression, dysfunctional cognitive constructs) were high, while those with nonsymptomatic personality assessment (NEO-FFI) were lower. The BDI-II differentiated well between different grades of depression and was sensitive to change. CONCLUSION: The German BDI-II demonstrates good reliability and validity in clinical and nonclinical samples. It may now replace the older version of the BDI for assessing self-rated severity of depression and course of depressed symptoms under treatment.     

Replication of a two-factor model of the Beck Depression Inventory in alcohol dependents and suicide attempters

The factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is still controversial. The present study attempted to replicate a general two-factor model (cognitive-affective and somatic factors) of the BDI with a confirmatory Procrustes rotation procedure in two clinical samples of patients being treated for alcohol dependence (N(1) = 243, N(2) = 148) and one clinical sample of patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward because of an act of deliberate self-harm (N(3) = 144). In addition, due to the neglect of gender-specific analysis in factor-analytic studies of the BDI, the two-factor model was tested for males and females separately. The results did not support the validity of the two-factor model in the total samples. Gender-specific findings indicated a better fit of the model in male samples. Possible implications of a gender-specific factor structure of the BDI are discussed.