--- title: "Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II): A Clinician's Guide" url: "https://www.ellomind.com/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/beck-depression-inventory/" description: "A clinician's overview of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II): what the 21-item self-report measures, how it is scored and interpreted, and its use in India. Educational only." --- Depression # Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) Self-report depression severity measure · 13 years and above A clinician's overview of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), one of the most widely used self-report measures of depression severity. What it covers, how it is scored, and its use in India. [Try the Progress note (SOAP, DAP, BIRP) tool](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/progress-note-writer/) [All tests](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/) **Educational overview only.** The BDI-II is copyrighted and published by Pearson; formal use requires a licensed copy. ElloMind does not reproduce the items or scoring; this page is educational only. For a free alternative, see the PHQ-9. ## What it is The Beck Depression Inventory, developed by Aaron T. Beck and now in its second edition (BDI-II), is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that rates the severity of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. Each item is rated 0 to 3, giving a total from 0 to 63. It is used for measuring severity and tracking change, in both clinical practice and research. Unlike the free PHQ-9, it is a copyrighted, published instrument. ## Who it is for It is used with adolescents and adults, aged roughly 13 and above, where a validated measure of depression severity is wanted. It complements, rather than replaces, clinical interview. Although it is self-completed, it is used and interpreted within professional practice, with a licensed copy. ## How it is administered The person rates each of the 21 items 0 to 3 for the past two weeks; the clinician sums the total. Common BDI-II bands are 0 to 13 minimal, 14 to 19 mild, 20 to 28 moderate and 29 to 63 severe. Because the items are copyrighted, formal use requires a licensed copy from the publisher; clinicians who want a free alternative often use the PHQ-9. ## Use in India The BDI has been translated and used across India, including in several regional languages. Clinicians consider the fit of the translation and cultural expression of distress when interpreting scores, and some prefer the free PHQ-9 for routine use to avoid licensing costs. ## Related free tools [Documentation Progress note (SOAP, DAP, BIRP)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/progress-note-writer/) [Treatment planning Treatment plan (SMART goals)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/treatment-plan/) [Depression Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/scales/phq-9-depression-scale/) ## Citation and sources Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., & Brown, G.K. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory-II. Pearson. * [Beck Depression Inventory (overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beck%5FDepression%5FInventory) — Wikipedia ## Frequently asked questions How is the BDI-II scored? + Each of the 21 items is rated 0 to 3 for the past two weeks and summed, for a total from 0 to 63\. Higher totals indicate greater depression severity. What is a normal BDI-II score? + Common bands are 0 to 13 minimal, 14 to 19 mild, 20 to 28 moderate and 29 to 63 severe depression. Is the BDI free to use? + No. The BDI-II is copyrighted and published by Pearson, so it requires a licensed copy. The PHQ-9 is a free alternative many clinicians use. ## More tests and assessments [Intelligence Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/wisc/) [Intelligence Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/wais/) [Non-verbal reasoning Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/ravens-progressive-matrices/) [Intelligence (India) Binet-Kamat Test of Intelligence (BKT)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/binet-kamat-test/) [Intelligence (India) Malin's Intelligence Scale for Indian Children (MISIC)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/misic/) [Performance test (India) Bhatia's Battery of Performance Tests of Intelligence (Bhatia Battery)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/bhatia-battery/) [Performance test (India) Seguin Form Board Test (SFBT)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/seguin-form-board/) [Adaptive behaviour Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/vineland-social-maturity-scale/) [Cognitive screening Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/mmse/) [Projective test Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/thematic-apperception-test/) [Personality Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/mmpi/) [Personality Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF)](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/16pf/) This page is general educational information for professionals, not clinical or legal advice, and not a substitute for training in the instrument. ElloMind does not provide, sell or reproduce copyrighted test materials. [Back to all tests](/ai-tools-for-psychologists/tests/)