Dimensions of the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for people with arthritis from the UK

The aim of this study was to investigate the factor structure and to conduc t an item analysis of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Sca le (CES-D) among people with arthritis from the UK. This 20-item self-repor t scale was designed by Radloff in 1977 to measure depressive symptomatolog y in the general population. Data were drawn from a national study and coll ected through self-administered questionnaires mailed to participants, each of whom had a confirmed diagnosis of arthritis. Reliability and structure of the scale were examined using standard item analysis, internal consisten cy (Cronbach alpha), and principal components analysis. A four-dimensional structure was identified: Self-worth, Depressed Affect, Positive Affect, an d Somatic Disturbance; three items loaded on two factors and were excluded from consideration. Comparisons with previous studies indicated some differ ences in the subscales and showed that, in this sample, two subscales might be artifacts of measurement. In samples of people with arthritis from the UK, use of the total score may not reflect accurate depressive symptomatolo gy and the subscale scores should be used with caution.