The diagnostic efficiency of the trait version of the Depression Adjec
tive Check Lists (DACL) was studied in a two-phase investigation that
involved two psychiatric patient samples (N = 308 and N = 67). Cutting
scores developed on the first sample were cross-validated successfull
y on the second sample. In addition, the DACL compared favorably in di
agnostic efficiency with the Beck Depression Inventory, the MMPI-D sca
le, and a Self-rating Depression scale.