RELATIONSHIP OF BECK DEPRESSION INVENTORY FACTORS TO DEPRESSION AMONGADOLESCENTS

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores of 328 adolescents referred to a depression clinic were factor analyzed to test the discriminant vali dity of each factor. Three of the four factors (Negative Self Attitude , Performance Difficulty, and Somatic Symptoms) discriminated depresse d adolescents from those with a behavior disorder or no diagnosis; the Negative Self Altitude and Performance Difficulty factors also discri minated depressed from anxious adolescents. The fourth factor, Physica l Worry, failed to discriminate diagnostic groups. Diagnostic efficien cy statistics are reported for both the BDI and for items comprising t he 13-item BDI Short Form. Results indicate the BDI is a valid screeni ng tool for adolescent depression in a clinical setting, regardless of the presence of comorbid conditions. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.